Aysedasi's Le Mans

Le Mans 2023 - Ayse's Story

Page 21 - Ayse's Postscript

I think first impressions are important in the context of a Le Mans trip, although they can be both surprising and even deceiving as they turned out to be last year, but my first impressions of Le Mans 2023 are that it will be pretty hard to beat. I'd go so far as to say that this was one of the very best of the 36 that I've had the pleasure of experiencing. The race lived up to all my expectations, an incredible battle at the front ending with a fairy-tale win for Ferrari. There were many occasions during the race (and not just at the start) when I marveled at the sight of seven or eight or more hypercars going past, one after the other. After several years of no significant competition at the sharp end it was a wonderful experience and the first time for many years that we haven't had to look for battles in the other classes to keep us entertained. With the promise of more hypercar entries to follow, 2024 could turn out to be even better.

On a more personal note we had the perfect tight-knit group with James, Lauren and myself, joined by Allon on Wednesday. As befitted our new ‘team’ we had our familiar routines, particularly in the mornings which we really enjoyed, our breakfasts at the Feuillette really setting us up for the day. My concerns regarding the parking and traffic situation were almost wholly unfounded. Parking in Expo was perfect throughout, my only reservation being the fact that I should have got hold of two tickets instead of just one. Our two Panorama tickets remained unused for the entire time we were there! If I learned one thing over the course of the week it would be not to get so concerned about traffic. For weeks beforehand I had been reading in the various forums (and from the ACO directly) about the likelihood of traffic gridlock around the circuit and in the event we really didn't see any at any time other than in and around Arnage village, which was both inevitable and unsurprising. We encountered hardly any traffic at all going to and from the circuit even after breakfasting before getting there.  Our journey into the circuit on race morning was by far the easiest I’ve ever experienced.  We did tend to start out earlier each day than we had done in the past but we were all reasonably early risers (James F will hopefully forgive me for saying that he never was!) and we were happy to get out and about rather than sit in a hot and stuffy hotel room.

Our carefully selected seats in T17 were near perfect, particularly for the start of the race. Having ‘Pete and Frank’ there some of the time was only occasionally a minor irritant when Pete lit up one of his cigars, and if there was ever a year in which having a seat under good cover was essential it was 2023, as it saved us from the worst of the sun and also gave us easy access to vital refreshments.

Other highlights were the meals at the ‘Hippo’, the museum visit, the Friday evening celebration at the circuit, the Ten Tenths meeting on Saturday and perhaps most of all, our time with Trevor Hermance, particularly at Mulsanne corner on Thursday evening. As I begin to write this only three weeks or so after the event I know that we should have got out and about more during the race. We probably could have got out to Arnage and Mulsanne as normal in the early hours of Sunday morning, however bearing in mind just how exhausted I felt down at Tertre Rouge around 5:00 am it may well have been a sensible decision to stay at the main part of the circuit, especially as we had been to Arnage and Mulsanne on Wednesday and Thursday evening respectively. If it had been cooler I'm sure we wouldn't have spent so much time sheltering from the sun in T17, however I'm hoping that we will re-establish our usual routine next year. 

It was strange only having to be concerned about the four of us whereas in the past, certainly for the last few years, the team has been larger, however the dynamics of the team over those years meant that my ‘sub-team’ tended to have to act independently anyway and of course the situation in 2022 made for a very different experience. It was sad in a way that having been to Le Mans with James F for so many years that I saw very little of him after our Monday evening dinner (other than at the Ten Tenths meeting), however his intentions were made very clear after last year's trip. As both he and we intend to continue to stay at the same base at Le Mans we will no doubt continue to see each other each year.  It was also a shame not to have Tony's company and I hope he will review his decision not to return to Le Mans in the future.  

I've read a lot on social media about this year’s event written by people who were there. It's fair to say that views differ massively between those like me who loved it and had a tremendous time and those who found plenty of things to nitpick about, even some who found the (inevitable) crowds too much for them to deal with and say they won't be going back. Well, that'll leave a bit more space for me and those who plan their trips more carefully... If next year’s Le Mans turns out to be half as good as this year, I for one am really looking forward to being back at Le Mans in 2024.  As I conclude my story (incredibly early in mid-October!) plans have already been made for 2024 and ticketing opens for members in a couple of weeks.  I plan to be ready!  

And finally, in now time-honoured fashion, we finish the story with the 'Bit of Fun at the End' highlights video.  There are two versions, the first with music (mine) and the second without, for those who don't have the stamina/taste for my musical offerings.....