Although at Le Mans Classic in early July it sometimes rains, one thing is for sure, it's going to be hot. This year was no exception. Anyway. Because of testing at Snetterton I had a convoluted journey to Le Sarthe. First a couple of hundred miles north east to Norfolk, and then back down to the M25, across the bridge and overnight at the door of Le Shuttle. Arrive Le Mans press centre midday Friday, greeted by sunshine.

 

It's very busy. Rest of the day talking to friends and playing catch-up. Overnight was spent at a dingy overpriced hotel on the ring road, saving grace was working air-con. Saturday was still dry. Arrived early, 07.00 to avoid the traffic, which can be horrendous with some, one hundred thousand spectators all arriving within a sixty minute window, usually between 09.00-10.00. I strolled down to the Dunlop Bridge area to watch the support races and then crossed over to get a good start shot of Plateau 1. Watching eighty drivers, some grossly overweight, running to their cars is highly amusing. As most of you know, the main event goes on non-stop over twenty-four hours, grids split into age groups, with each enjoying three, fifty minute races, one guaranteed during the hours of darkness. If you can stay awake it's worth a trip out to Arnage corner where several late aged sports cars regularly spit flames on overrun. Yours truly gives up early enough in the evening so as to locate a decent restaurant, after all. One does'nt make the long trip to Lemans just to look at fancy cars.

 

Come Sunday, come the rain. And plenty of it. Feeling sorry for those driving pre-war, open cars, I found shelter in marshals huts, emerging every now and again to take a few snaps. There were noticeably less drivers circulating during the final hours, which says it all. As everybody leaves at the same time, I'm well away from the circuit by four, and looking to lodge at the comfortable Mecure Hotel, located on the right side of Rouen for a quick Monday morning getaway. Back through the tunnel at lunchtime, and home by six in time for my local curry house to open. Another race weekend over.