I feel that the 15.00 start for the race has made the preliminaries seem very crowded in, so you have to be pretty sorted for the support race. Like you, I'd have liked to have got out on the circuit for the race, but it's so very short and doesn't give much prep' time!
That was the great thing about HAN, 5 mins walk to Tetre Rouge, watch the race, back for breakfast.