This section is a guide for those considering camping in one of the official campsites located around the circuit. These are in effect temporary sites, used when there are events on the circuit, as a result the facilities are temporary and limited, so careful planning is required to ensure as comfortable a stay as possible. The information is aimed both at regular campers with some equipment and those without any equipment or regular camping experience.

Some campsites are livelier than others, some have all the facilities and some have none. point of view, you need a combination of facilities and proximity to a track entrance. There are sites alongside the track, such as Maison Blanche, some that are just outside the track such as Bleu Nord & Bleu Sud and some that are a long way from the action such as Beausejour.

The ticket cost of the Grandstands reduces the further you get away from the Start/finish line. If you are planning your first trip I can recommend that the ones opposite the pits are well worth the money. You get the full effect of the noise of the start, you can see the pit crews working away and it gives you a good base from which to manage a group. However, you do not get to choose your row or seat number, the first 5-6 rows can be a poor vantage point, this is because the spectators in the terraces below bring tall step ladders which then restricts the view to the lower rows of the seated areas, although I have been informed that ladders are now restricted to 3 steps. To follow the race more closely select a stand opposite a large screen as you will get to see most of the action from other parts of the circuit. For those on a more restricted budget the answer is to use the qualifying sessions to decide where you want to watch the start and finish from and get there early, it a bit like being first in the queue for the sales make sure there are two of you so one can keep the place safe whist the other is away. Events on Saturday usually start around 09:00 so there is plenty of build up to keep you entertained.

Of the larger campsites outside of the outer track perimeter my personal favourite is Bleu Nord, it is a five-minute walk across Parking Blanc to the entrance behind the stands opposite the pits. The walk across the parking area can be almost as exiting as any of the classic displays within the village as odd bits of exotica popup from behind the ubiquitous hot hatches and mundane saloons. Bleu Nord has hot showers and toilets, and since the introduction of a private camping area these have become a lot less crowded, I would still advise getting up early to beat the queues and in 2014 the addition of a bar and hot food stand has increased its desirability. Hygiene in these places has taken a step up in recent years as the organisers have employed professional cleaning companies rather than rely on local goodwill to maintain the facilities. I would still recommend taking one’s own paper supply for each visit as these things can never be guaranteed.

For those without equipment, tent selection is a very important, although over the years we have had some trips where the weather was incredibly hot and I mean 4 days of 30+, there have been years of almost constant showers. A poor tent in difficult conditions will ruin a good trip, 3 tips, two separate areas one for living one for sleeping, tall enough for standing room, and if new make sure there has been a test put up prior to departure and ensure that entry and exit are feasible and that you have all the bits, cries over the campsite of ‘my son/daughter used this at Glastonbury’ usually means that there is a fundamental piece missing. Festival tents are great for teenagers, but not so for creaking middle-aged bodies. This is the place where you will get dressed, so ensure that standing up is possible and that there is a place to separate wet coats or towels from dry sleeping bags and clothes, clear nights in June can be very cold and even colder in damp bedding. With a moderately sized tent, it is possible to be set up and having your first bottle of beer within an hour of arrival.

Camping kit list.

Don’t be put off if I say that the weekend can be a long walk, there is a lot to see and do all off it accessible on foot. As a result, a comfortable camp can make all the difference, a chair and a table are necessary to keep the food and beer off the ground as well a providing a comfortable platform to rest weary legs and feet.
The June weather in La Sarthe can be very changeable, one-minute bright sunshine the next a torrential downpour be prepared for anything. Those with limited space would be well advised to pack a couple of umbrellas larger parties with greater carrying capacity might want to bring a Gazebo or Event Shelter to provide a focal point for the camp, just ensure with these that the guys are checked regularly as invariably the wind will get up once they are left unattended.

Catering and refrigeration.

There are two catering options for the campsite, one is to have all the gear with some refrigeration for cold beer and food hygiene, the other is a single gas Burner and a kettle for making tea. With the latter it is best to rely on local catering wagons, of which there is a plentiful supply around the circuit at all times, as well as good bars and restaurants in Arnage, this option I would recommend to anyone in a small party, keep it simple. If you do want to self cater on the site then a simple BBQ will cover most needs, but be mindful that you need to keep meat below 8* if it is out of the fridge for more than an hour, you have come to watch racing not go shopping. There are no sites with electrical hook-ups, so to run a fridge requires either a generator or a Gas camping fridge. The former is noisy and requires constant attention, checking the fuel and operation means returning to the campsite periodically, that latter works well in the shade but will struggle in extreme heat.