maps

I thought it might be useful to give you a quick tour of the main features of the circuit.....

The circuit's main viewing area, with grandstands lining the straight and the "tribunes" opposite the pits. From the start, the cars bear quickly to the right, before breaking for the Dunlop Chicane. Those who've never been to Le Mans before, tend to spend the whole race here - but there is much more to see! Just because you've got a grandstand seat doesn't mean you have to stay in it for the whole race - this isn't a 90-minute Grand Prix!

The Dunlop Chicane (which isn't actually depicted in this shot) is now followed by the new section created for the 2002 race between the Dunlop Bridge and the Esses. The Dunlop Chicane is a popular viewing area (with a grandstand) and the run down to the Esses is even more popular than ever, with fans eager to see the cars on the new section of track. Make sure you watch from up in the trees at the Esses though, especially during the night.

Once through the Esses, the cars power down to Tertre Rouge ("red hillock"), a quite tight and vital right-hander which propels the cars onto the famous Mulsanne Straight. Good light trail shots from the inside here if you can throw your lens wide open to avoid the ever-present debris fencing. Another great place to watch during the night, as cars often come to grief in the kitty-litter on the outside when brakes tire and driver concentration begins to wane.

Even with the chicanes created for the 1990 race, the fastest cars are still traveling at close to 200 mph on the Mulsanne. Although the Mulsanne is not a recognised public viewing area, a visit to the restaurants (even taking a meal there if you're lucky!) may give the chance to look over the fences. Well worth a visit if you can find your way in the night, just to hear the cars screaming past - my abiding memory of my first visit to Le Mans.

The track between the two chicanes is largely out of bounds to spectators (there are always those who claim to get there without being nabbed by the gendarmes!). While it may not seem so from these pictures, the two chicanes are direct oppsites of each other, the first turns to the right and the second to the left. The Mulsanne Kink, once the most daunting part of the circuit, is now a much slower affair, following directly after the cars exit the second chicane.

Mulsanne Corner remains a very popular viewing spot and even if you don't have your own transport, shuttle buses go to and from Mulsanne regularly. The cars are travelling quite slowly once they come into view, and with banking provided for spectators on the outside of the corner, its a rare opportunity to take pictures without too much fencing in the way. My recommendation? Go at night - and listen to the cars as they blast off down to Indianapolis!

The Indianapolis/Arnage complex is one of my favourite spots and, as with Mulsanne Corner, the bus excursions stop off here as well. The run off areas changed for the 2001 race, and the view isn't as good as it once was, but its still worth going - again at night if you can. Lots of fencing here, unfortunately, making photography difficult. The complex has become very popular, so much so that the ACO has had to use overflow car parks about 10 minutes walk away.

A favourite part of the circuit for many drivers - a series of sweeping corners where back-markers are guaranteed to catch out the unwary! The barriers are unforgiving - just ask Mario Andretti who might have won the Le Mans he so covets in 1995! At the LM Classic in 2002 I finally found the enclosure here which you can reach from the road outside the circuit. (I think I'll be going back there again!).

So we come to the end of the lap. As the cars exit the Porsche Curves they blast down the track before braking for the Ford Chicane. Another good place to watch from, with raised banking on the outside. Just along from the Ford Chicane is the "Maison Blanche" grandstand, which affords a very good view of the cars as they enter the chicane and then blast up the straight. Another good view at night (but then all the views are good at night!).

(Watch out for the names/locations of the grandstands - they have changed a bit since I prepared this map)

It's a bit small and the definition isn't so hot, but as least you can see the general layout and the car parks!