On the run - Escaping the traffic at the end of the race - alternative method

[aricus654]

If like me you like to watch the finish at the start/finish line and then join the crowds watching prize giving, you might find this a better route away at the end of the race.

Getting out of the many campsites can be fraught with delays, especially when many multiple campsites feed into a single exit.

An alternative is to pack up and move your car out of the campsites, but instead of Mulsanne, I suggest moving to the Carrefour Hypermarket car park situated on Avenue Georges Durand a couple of hours before the end.

The supermarket is closed on Sundays, however the petrol station there is open as is the covered car park, where you can leave your car. (You could leave it beside the road if you are worried about car park clamping, but this, to my knowledge, is not a disease that has spread to Le Mans.)

The Carrefour is a couple of stops up from the circuit, but it's only a few hundred metres to south to Tetre Rouge and an entrance to the circuit, so an easy walk.

After the finish and prize giving, you can meander up over the Dunlop bridge and out of the circuit and back to your car, perhaps taking a coffee and slice of cake at the patisserie Bouvet Jean-marie  just before the Carrefour.

Remembering that the main traffic delays are to the west of Le Mans, travel south and east.

I would suggest travelling south along Avenue Georges Durrand/D338 until the junction with the D323 ring road which you can take going east (unless like me you want a drive up the Mulsanne Straight on the D338 which should be open by then). Drive 8km along the A323 before taking the A28/A11 to Paris/Rouen/Nantes/Rennes/Tours and then join the A28/E502 still signposted Paris/Rouen......  After 5km take the A11 signposted Rouen/Caen/Alencon and away.



Aricus

[geoffd]

Alternative and much simpler solution - don't leave till Monday, or till mid evening Sunday.  Yes I know many people have ferries and trains to catch but leaving with the masses is never a good idea, plan ahead!

[smokie]

Thanks Aricus, sounds good.

I usually leave before the end to avoid the rush. I have been known to leave before the start :-)

[Boorish Grobian]

Hi Smokie,
Your words of wisdom have begun to ring true with me, more & more.  I remember some wise words of wisdom from a very, very great racing driver, at a Mid-Ohio watering hole.  When I asked him about 24 hour races, he said he always thought they were about twenty hours too long.  After he retired, he would go back to Le Mans, or Daytona, for practice & qualifying, and then, as he said, get the hell out of town before the race.  I didn't get it at the time (about twenty years ago).  I get it now...
Fax

[Si H]

We don't leave until the Monday morning. It's a lot more relaxed sitting with a few beers than it is joining the rush to get away. Tried it once, didn't like it, so it's been Monday ever since....

[Barry]

I've left on a Sunday on occasions, usually by about 5pm it's not been a problem leaving from BN.

[Kev_mk3]

I always finish the race at arnage. When the cars are over and done with I head the back roads to mums house

[Landy_Jon]

Previous years have seen a departure from Blue Nord having ducked out of the ACO lounge across the track as the ceremonies begin.  This year we are camping inside the circuit and will be trying to get out from there...

...now that could be interesting and I wonder if anyone has any advice...

(apart from join the queue )

[landman]

Last year we drove off Bleu Nord around 4pm and had no trouble at all. The same could not be said for Paris, so this year we're heading to Chartres for a night in a hotel, sh*t, shower, shave, curry, beers and banter.

[Lord Steve]

I always finish the race at arnage. When the cars are over and done with I head the back roads to mums house

Like you Kev, we always escape from Maison Blanche to Arnage, then onto the A11 then A28 North - next stop Calais for (same as Paul) ablutions, pizza and Stellas at Au Bureau Pub followed by deep sleep in a real bed with a real pillow and duvet including world standard farting!

[aricus654]

Ha!

It looks like we all have our own preferred route.

Aricus

[Kristof]

(apart from join the queue )

Have a lot of patience 

[Werner]

If like me you like to watch the finish at the start/finish line and then join the crowds watching prize giving, you might find this a better route away at the end of the race.

Getting out of the many campsites can be fraught with delays, especially when many multiple campsites feed into a single exit.

An alternative is to pack up and move your car out of the campsites, but instead of Mulsanne, I suggest moving to the Carrefour Hypermarket car park situated on Avenue Georges Durand a couple of hours before the end.

The supermarket is closed on Sundays, however the petrol station there is open as is the covered car park, where you can leave your car. (You could leave it beside the road if you are worried about car park clamping, but this, to my knowledge, is not a disease that has spread to Le Mans.)

The Carrefour is a couple of stops up from the circuit, but it's only a few hundred metres to south to Tetre Rouge and an entrance to the circuit, so an easy walk.

After the finish and prize giving, you can meander up over the Dunlop bridge and out of the circuit and back to your car, perhaps taking a coffee and slice of cake at the patisserie Bouvet Jean-marie  just before the Carrefour.

Remembering that the main traffic delays are to the west of Le Mans, travel south and east.

I would suggest travelling south along Avenue Georges Durrand/D338 until the junction with the D323 ring road which you can take going east (unless like me you want a drive up the Mulsanne Straight on the D338 which should be open by then). Drive 8km along the A323 before taking the A28/A11 to Paris/Rouen/Nantes/Rennes/Tours and then join the A28/E502 still signposted Paris/Rouen......  After 5km take the A11 signposted Rouen/Caen/Alencon and away.



Aricus

Hi Aricus,
this is very good advice, so I've added it to the repecticve chapter in our Wiki at http://www.clubarnage.com/wiki/doku.php?id=ca_guide:on-the-run

Werner

[Kev_mk3]

did a dry run of my escape last week - piece of cake I hope