[LM24] Le Mans 2023 - 10/11 June - Who Is Going? (Closed)

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Anyone teaching PR could use this ticket porridge as an example of how not to do it.

We're making significant changes to the physical layout of our facility.
Literally hundreds of thousands of our loyal, paying customers will be directly and adversely affected.
Many of our longstanding partners (like ticket agencies) will have to significantly alter their well-honed procedures to account for the changes.
Shall we tell anyone? Nah.

I'm not sure if it's contempt or ineptitude.

I've long suspected that the ACO doesn't have a true grasp of the demographic of their fanbase and how they actually consume the race. Communication and promotion has never been their strong point but it seems bizarre to do away with both in their biggest year.

Other than carving up the circuit for corporate guests and plotting the most nonsensical social media posts and infographics, I'd love to know what is actually happening in their head offices. How did you not know that reducing supply when demand goes up might cause a few headaches?

[RL17]

Camping also a no no for many, plus currency and crossings if selling into UK.

Some of the private campsites do a wonderful service and shame not selling as much ACO sites this year. Did a great job for us rolling multiple times for 2 years (including different ferry companies/routes out and back different) for a small group plus all the hassles of supplying food and beer cross border that now exist.

[eps]

I'd go with ineptitude. Luckily for them they've got a great product which lets them off a lot!!

Either they don't know who goes or they think they know but they don't or they just cater for person X but that's actually quite a small percentage of spectators.. Either way they miss the target of 'us'.

I don't think they like the agencies any more - they used to like them as they took away the risk but now I feel like they think they are taking all the money from them... They made a fairly conscious decision to sell tickets in a specific way about 20 years ago and maybe they've had a change of heart since then. Sad times really.

[AstonGeoff]

In a change of subject, Brittany Ferries have started the Portsmouth - Le Havre route up again, and it's keenly priced (for them), so anyone not booked a ferry yet may want to look at them.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Simmi

The panic buying was the correct way to go.

Well I held firm and trusted the agency - trying to panic buy 32 camping spots, 30 grandstands and 64 entry tickets would have been ludicrous!

I can see why you would do as a smaller group though.

[eps]

Originally Posted by Mal

Well I held firm and trusted the agency - trying to panic buy 32 camping spots, 30 grandstands and 64 entry tickets would have been ludicrous!

I can see why you would do as a smaller group though.

Yep, we did the same for our group. Just waited - we're not as big as your group, just the 14.. But have been good customers with a ticket agent for a number of years now.

[Aysedasi]

I feel sorry for the (well, some of the) agencies too. AFAIK, none of them were given any cause in advance by the ACO to worry about getting the allocations they'd been getting for years and have basically been dumped on from a great height by the ACO.

[Simmi]

Now officially a sell-out race week according to the ACO's latest email.

Has this ever happened before?

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Now officially a sell-out race week according to the ACO's latest email.

Has this ever happened before?

Website also says sold out. I wonder how many have been sold.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Now officially a sell-out race week according to the ACO's latest email.

Has this ever happened before?

100% sure that if it has, it's never happened as early as this.

[GT6]

Well certainly since i have been going since 1984 you could always buy GE tickets on the gate when we got there, ok camping and grandstand sell out biut never know race tickets not being available on the day. it is an enourmous place. but new post covid rules/ health and safety may have put a limit on things for the first time

[GT6]

Just had that mail, appears they may have a few left which are available to those that have purchased members area passes but no GE tickets. Also noted that the ACo has given up on life and decided to take over 2 weeks off.

[AstonGeoff]

Originally Posted by GT6

Just had that mail, appears they may have a few left which are available to those that have purchased members area passes but no GE tickets. Also noted that the ACO has given up on life and decided to take over 2 weeks off.

There will always be a few GA's left....

The staff in the ticket office deserve the time off!

[GT6]

yep i think the last month or so has been a tough time for them

[RL17]

So for non-EU travel from UK or elsewhere to 2023 is it

EES - no pre-actions but fingerprints and face scans - not that easy for car occupants.

no ETIAS yet - now for November

Crit Air sticker for Rouen (different views on this but thought by lots of changes recently and before next race)?

Anything else?

[Truckosaurus]

Originally Posted by RL17

....
Crit Air sticker for Rouen (different views on this but thought by lots of changes recently and before next race)...

This seems to boil down to how likely you think it is that the Police (or whoever poilices the scheme) are going to be doing spot checks on British cars driving through during race week. (Easy enough, just flag down any 'old' looking cars)

The fine is fairly modest anyway so could be just considered an alternative toll instead of going out of your way to cross the river downstream.

[Mike E]

But it's much nicer crossing the river downstream. Go via Yvetot and cross the Pont de Brotonne.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/br...ortBy=relevant

[Peter Mallett]

Not if yopure travelling from Caen!

[GT6]

No problem if you stick to the ring road. Only problem if you actually go through Rouen itself

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Not if yopure travelling from Caen!

Ok, bit of a detour for you

[Truckosaurus]

Originally Posted by GT6

No problem if you stick to the ring road. Only problem if you actually go through Rouen itself

They are (or may have even done so already) expanding it to cover the whole city by the time of the 2023 race.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by Truckosaurus

They are (or may have even done so already) expanding it to cover the whole city by the time of the 2023 race.

In our language, what you're looking for is called ZFE: Zone a Faibles Emissions. I sincerely dont think they will spot brit cars but dont recommend to jeopardize with the police because from the beginning of next year we could be fined via video surveillance. This system is inspired by the one used in London since ages… The sticker is not cheap and the fine is really expensive.

[RL17]

Under 5 euros direct if your vehicle qualifies if get direct including postage to UK- bit of a faff downloading image of front page of V5 and two weeks or so for delivery.

Thought still manual policing so more if an issue if parking or stopping at hotel etc in Rouen - manual checks on main roads would probably make air quality much worse. And all details on database there too.

[Aysedasi]

So this only affects Rouen at the moment?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

So this only affects Rouen at the moment?

The blue zones on this map

Rouen is the zone that is most likely to affect Brits travelling to LM (but most will still bypass it on the major routes).