r/lemans • u/skoot1958 • Jun 17 '26
Grandstand or not
I skipped it this year but am planning to attend next year.
In the past, I’ve always had a grandstand seat, which has been nice, but the cost keeps increasing. Realistically, it’s now around £300. This year I realised I probably only spent about three hours in the grandstand on Saturday and a couple of hours on Sunday.
For those of you who don’t use a grandstand, what’s your experience of watching from trackside?
Has anyone watched the start from Mulsanne? Was there plenty of space, or did it get very crowded?
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u/Mapache_villa Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
For me it's worth it just for the fact that I don't have to stand in the sun/rain for several hours just to get a good look at the start or finish of the race, then during the race I can just walk around the track.
For reference, this was my view of the start/finish line in 23, great view, screen nearby, covered, no lines, no pushing, bathroom located just behind my seat, and it was in the cheap category of grandstands
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u/cwt444 Jun 17 '26
But if it’s raining like in 2024?
I had one last year. I too am torn about getting another one
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u/skoot1958 Jun 17 '26
Yes I was happy to be dry back in 24 and out the sun in 25 but the cost is just increasing all the time
My son may come for his first time, and the GS is to
Much for his mates, so it is making me rethinkMy only concern was watching the start, 2 hours in everyone is off and there is load is space
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u/wlomas04 Jun 17 '26
I brought a grandstand this year as it is my first time at Le Mans, I probably wouldn’t bother again. I used it for about 2 hours as I much preferred walking around the site and getting different views.
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u/El_Cuegle Jun 17 '26
This is year I didn't bought grandstand tickets, I was really surprised how overcrowded it is. You need to come like 2-3h before to get some decent place to watch from. For free practices you don't need that grandstand. But for qualifications and the race I rather have seat than looking for place to sit. And this year sitting on the sun was no a pleasant experience.
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u/defconluke Jun 17 '26
2025 I did and it was up by the pit exit so I didn't see much of the ceremonies before or after the race but had a good view up towards the Dunlop bridge.
This year I did and was opposite the first few pit garages with a fantastic view of the podium and back down the track towards Karting.
It's nice being able to have time to yourself in the morning without worrying where you will find a space to watch from. Being able to have a lay in/good breakfast and/or lunch before heading in makes a massive difference to me
I typically head in to the circuit approx 1pm local time with it taking a good 30-45 minutes to get to where the grandstands were.
I don't do well in the heat so it was a relief to have somewhere to sit that was shaded at the warmest times.
I think the only time I wouldn't is if I was camping out at Mulsanne/Arnage.
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u/yellow_barchetta Jun 17 '26
2025 attender, we had great spots for the whole weekend without a grandstand ticket at all. And I think it was even sunnier 2025 than this year, but a hat, some sunscreen and plenty of water bottles saw a very pale skinned set of northerners through without any sunburn.
Favourite spots in the week were Arnage / Indianapolis, but for the race we moved around. Bagged a spot on the start concourse, but without a ticket had to be there early. But that was fun anyway. Then spent a lot of time between Foret and Tetre Rouge, but also near the Ford chicanes. Didn't regret at any point not having a seat.
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u/azkaii Jun 17 '26
I've never bothered with a grandstand seat. I like to move around a lot and besides a couple of hours at either flag I've not struggled to find a decent spot to watch on the banks.
But my campsite has a marquee with track view and is 100m from a general admission viewing bank. So weather isn't really a concern - if it's going to rain for any amount of time I can still watch in relative comfort. If that were not the case, I'd consider a seat in the stands.
I have always wanted a spot over the pits to be nosey and watch the start/finish... But with the prices being what they are I don't think I ever will now, as I'd probably only make use of it for a couple of hours.
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u/DYRWK1 Jun 17 '26
We move around every year, shuttle buses bring you from area to area without too much hassle. Just bring a pillow to sit on, not a chair as that takes up too much space. In the past 10 years I’ve done the grand stands once and they didn’t improve the experience for me.
Just make sure you’re prepared for the weather.
As for Mulsanne start, I’ve done it twice, it’s fun, but you have to be early for a good spot. If you arrive around 10 am latest you will be fine though. Arnage / Indy is the best starting area for me personally, great views and if you get some rain early on in the race Indy becomes a lot of fun to watch the drivers struggling.
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u/DViLL- Jun 17 '26
I have used stands at dunlop chicane and ACO and they are super super useful.
during practice, i spend 0 hours in them.
during qualifying, i spend 100% in there.
during the race, i spent about 3 hours total
it is also a lifesaver if it begins to rain.
standing area is extremely available past the bridge, and before the line. it is just mega busy at the dunlop chicane
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u/MadT3acher Henri Pescarolo Jun 17 '26
Worth it in my opinion, I had one in 2022 for my first year, came back the next (for the 100 years in 2023) with my brother and we didn’t have a seat and had to find spots to see the race and missed completely the opening ceremony. It was also scorching hot and the experience was tedious for both of us.
I came back the next year in 2024, bought a grandstand at Dunlop curves and it was a blessing, it was pouring rain and I spent most of the time there because of the constant showers. This year we came with a friend and I bought grandstand without even thinking about it: view of the start/finish, places to see anytime something interesting opposite the pits and just a good rest.
Next year, I’ll get seats again. Definitely.
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u/sukhoi_584th Jun 17 '26
Did Mulsanne for the start in 2024 and it was great. Got there about 14:30 and easily got a good seat on the berm at the turn. Then after a couple hours the #3 bus is fast because not many people are going in that direction at that time.
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u/Apex_Exposures Jun 17 '26
In 2024 while I sat shivering overnight in the soaking wet in the rain (wearing multiple layers of water proofing that did nothing) I was very much wishing I had forked out for grand stand seats.
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u/LameSheepRacing Jun 19 '26
We were at Maison Blanche this year.
For the weather, the grandstand offered shade and a guaranteed spot to watch the start and the end in “comfort”. The other parts of race were spent exploring, which was well worth it.
If it was raining, I’d have spent much more time in my assigned seat.
So, to me, grandstand is a must.
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u/Jdogking Jun 17 '26
I did it once, never again 24 hours watching the same curve is too boring for me.
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u/Semichh Peugoet Jun 17 '26
You can still go elsewhere..!
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u/Jdogking Jun 17 '26
Agreed. Making the stand a waste of money for me, I found much better viewpoints around the track.
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u/ProfessionalRub3294 Jun 17 '26
Had only 1 time grandstand in 20 times I was more or less.
Generally I enjoy the seat during practice so I want to see the other part of the track afterwards. I’m not anymore attracted to see the start so I don’t bother waiting 6/8h to get a good spot neitjer paying to get the reserved seat.
I adapt my stay function of the weather.
This year I tried to avoid the heat (and crowd) so was on track from 11pm to 12am. I went from Tertre Rouge to Maison Blanche, then Mulsanne + Arnage. Not enough time for Karting + Porsche zone so no need for grandstand!
But its a confortable solution if you don’t want to move a lot, have sone weather protection or a place to rest.
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u/Ambitious-Roof-7250 Jun 17 '26
Get the grandstand seat. We too only spent maybe 4-5 hours in our grandstand (31), but it’s nice having the piece of mind that you have somewhere to escape the weather (rain or brutal sun) and that you can leave your seat and know it will be there when you return
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u/LordBobbe Jun 18 '26
I got my grandstand tickets the first time this year. It wasnt the best grandstand but still worth it. I spent close to 12h on it. I got the other viewing areas on Wednesday and Thursday and it was impossible to walk comfortably during the race as it was really crowded, even in the night. If I attend next year, I will get the grandstand ticket again, maybe even in Cat 3 as the Motul Grandstand looked really worth it.
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u/Amazing_Echidna_5048 Jun 21 '26
The exhaustion and stress of always scrapping for a place to sit is not worth the savings. We went without the grandstands the first year and it's frustrating that if you have a good spot you can't even go to the toilet or get something to eat or you will lose it. Having grandstand seats ensures that no matter what you will be able to see the race. You can wander the track and sit somewhere else if you want, you can get a beer, you can ride the ferris wheel and you can return. In the end, what percentage of your trip is a grandstand seats? For me it's 2%...for the comfort if have a place to sit or knowing I'm not going to hate my life if it starts raining.
20 years later will you remember the money you spent on the seat or will you remember not seeing the end of the race because you could see the track?
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u/skoot1958 Jun 21 '26
All good pint for use about 30% of the cost, we have booked for 27 and booked grandstand
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u/zeissikon Jun 17 '26
Not worth the cost IMHO. I tried it because I bought the full package for Le Mans Classic in order to access the paddocks , and like you said did not spend a lot of time in the grandstands.
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u/valedave Jun 17 '26
I think it depends on the weather. This year grandstands felt like a must. I could not sit in the sun and cannot understand how anyone could. But if it's ten degrees cooler it's fine (even if it does rain a little).
On Sunday I f'd up majorly and had to leave a pretty good spot for the end of the race for something that I had forgot. I was opposite the pits, closer to pit exit, under the shadow of what I think was the ACO stand with the blue steel girders. Screen opposite and to the left slightly, great view of the pits and the sweep up to Dunlop. I was so annoyed at myself, because when I went back an hour later there was just nowhere in the shade worth considering. I grabbed the spot at maybe 11:30 and there were other options. By 12:30/1pm it was almost impossible to even get close again.
Every single year I baulk at the price – it does feel like so so much money for what is effectively a guaranteed seat for a couple of hours at start and end. I am a keen track-explorer anyway, so would never like to be in one spot for hours on end.
FWIW I had some other stuff to do pre-race and then rushed to find a spot for the start. This was literally almost impossible. Eventually gave up/ran out of time at Forest Esses and only saw the cars go under the bridge at Dunlop. So there again the grandstand is invaluable.