Le Mans Classic 3-5 July 2020 - NOW 2022

[912Flyer]

Any news on 2021 Le Mans Classic happening?

Mike

[anglophone1]

I am a member of ACO - they are assuming it will go ahead as planned, see
https://www.lemansclassic.com/language/fr/accueil/
I have all my stuff rolled over from last year.
Was waiting to see whether James/ Robin will pop up with camping etc.
C

[70sThrowback]

Isn't that update quite old from when they postponed it? I have heard they are looking at options with possibly limited numbers. I don't think anyone can know it will go ahead or not for certain, its just whether they decide to postpone so everyone can make firm plans.

[markm]

Probably guarantee it will be limited numbers, cant see them allowing the usual hustle and bustle in the pits

[DustyM]

I am a member of ACO - they are assuming it will go ahead as planned, see
https://www.lemansclassic.com/language/fr/accueil/
I have all my stuff rolled over from last year.
Was waiting to see whether James/ Robin will pop up with camping etc.
C

How did you roll over your tickets Clive? I booked and paid through Porsche Club France on the 26/12/19 but have never heard anything since....

[anglophone1]

Sent you a PM Jon.

[hot66]

Can’t see it happening personally ...

[redrobin911]

OK - this is how I see it.

My business, and current lack of business for me is in the exhibition sector, part of the overall events sector where Covid19 has decimated it, the same goes for live entertainment, sport and many others. This post is not meant as a rant by me and how I've been personally affected, rather my opinion, through commerical understanding of my business where we are now, and to have an educated guess as to whether or not CLM will happen in 2021?

No is the short answer and for a multitue of reasons, the main one being that the French Government, like most in the world, are not going to allow any events with mass gatherings to go ahead at present. When they do, these will likely be in very small numbers until such times as the vaccine has reduced the number of hospitalisations. To get a guide on the possibly when such events will allowed we need to look at the numbers attending similar events at the moment then 'guess' as to how these numbers could increase for the likes of CLM. At this moment in time NO events, exhibitions, conferences ,large sporting events are taking place let alone with limited numbers of spectators. We have more time to wait I'm fraid.

Roll on 2022....

[70sThrowback]

Unfortunately I think you are correct Robin. One option is limited numbers, but given that everyone who bought tickets for 2020 and kept them automatically can enter 2021 how do they limit this number. Who doesn't get to go who already had tickets. The other issue is that from what I gather the Brits and other nations who have to travel buy early, the French in the main buy nearer the time. So those valid ticket holders from 2020 could be majority non-French meaning lots of travel to Le Mans. Which will no doubt be something they are wanting to avoid. On top of that there is the financial issue of limiting numbers. I am not overly optimistic, but also I don't want to go to a LMC for my first time which is a shadow of what it should be.

[Jonny Hart]

It's depressing but I can't see the world returning to what we used to call 'normal' for many years, if at all. Considering that one person spread the virus to to the entire planet in 3 months, that can still happen at any time. So we are just going to have to live with this thing which means changing our behaviour.

I don't think any country, let alone France, is going to hold crowded events so the format will have to change. Far less people, races on a large screens in outside spaces and streamed on the internet. Passes for an allocated time slot to see the paddock, live racing etc.

I hope I'm wrong. My initial thoughts last March was 18 months to get a vaccine rolled out to everyone which looks about right. At the time, I was laughed at by insisting that we needed to shut the borders and now look! It makes me mad that I have lived like a hermit for a year when a load of people have been eating out and carrying on as usual.

[redrobin911]

Agree with both follow up posts, its a new world and events will run but the format has yet to be devised, my industry (Events) are the most creative at working through these sort of issues - so it will happen.

But football, rugby etc. have the same issues can anyone see Wembley, Twickenham, Aviva - Dublin etc. being allow anything like full capacity? more like a 10%, this brings on the commerical aspect which many fans don't see. In terms of CLM and 180,000 fans going normally, do we really think the ACO will put on a event of this stature for say 20,000 to go - no, it doesn't stack up, why would they and lose money? Same has to be said for the events at Goodwood - if the organisers can't make money they wont run, if they have to restrict numbers then IMO these aren't going to happen - of course they'll rightly say its for the health of the nation, but in reality money talks....

[hot66]

The point of clm isn’t really the racing ... it’s the overall experience and the mad number of classic cars and their owners around the circuit and out and about everywhere . Its also camping with your mates and meeting old and new friends. It’s the journey there and back etc. It is an ‘event’. The huge numbers of people make that event.

Who wants to go to a limited numbers event with no atmos and where you can’t stroll around the pits and talk to the drivers / owners.

This is before I consider personal safety ... I’m under 50 so can’t see me getting ‘the jab’ until the back end of the year. Am I really going to keep myself under restrictions for the next 6 months , just to throw it away by sharing a lemans toilet block with 1000’s of others .

[KS]

It'll be back to days of small club events, hillclimbs/sprints, Bicester Scrambles and that's your lot.

Forget ever seeing a 917 race in anger again, unless you can afford to fly to the USA on a special Covid-friendly charter and watch racing there, because I doubt the US will give up their 'rights' to race for long.

In Europe, the seriously wealthy with their stable of multi-million pound/dollar classic race cars will club together and rent tracks for their own exclusive events, for which rights will be sold to on-line streaming services so we mere mortals can go ooh and aah...

[Bootsy]

A grim future. A bit like sex - we can all reminice about the halcyon days of our plentiful, youth-full past but now it's all about " rights will be sold to on-line streaming services so we mere mortals can go ooh and aah..."

[KS]

As long as you promise to wear a mask, Bootsy, we should be OK...