Our package prices for the Le Mans 24 hours are available on this website now.

We are pleased to be able to offer on-circuit camping packages for the Le Mans 24hrs 2009 at the same price as 2008, if confirmed before December 31st!

We are also able to offer camping packages in the grounds of 2 different chateaux just 30 minutes from the circuit. These packages are ideal for those people prefering a more relaxed Le Mans experience.

Click here for further details on all our packages or call (08700) 339923 to speak to one of knowledgeable staff.

Our package prices for the Le Mans 24 hours are available on this website now.

We are pleased to be able to offer on-circuit camping packages for the Le Mans 24hrs 2009 at the same price as 2008, if confirmed before December 31st!

We are also able to offer camping packages in the grounds of 2 different chateaux just 30 minutes from the circuit. These packages are ideal for those people prefering a more relaxed Le Mans experience.

Click here for further details on all our packages or call (08700) 339923 to speak to one of knowledgeable staff.

All of us at Travel Destinations have attended the Le Mans 24hrs race on many occasions and we pride ourselves in being able to provide new and existing customers with up to date information regarding all things Le Mans.

If you have not been to the Le Mans 24hrs race before or you are being asked to make a booking by your boss/husband or wife/girlfriend click this link Going for the 1st time now to get all the answers you need to book for Le Mans 24hrs 2009.

All of us at Travel Destinations have attended the Le Mans 24hrs race on many occasions and we pride ourselves in being able to provide new and existing customers with up to date information  regarding all things Le Mans.

If you have not been to the Le Mans 24hrs race before or you are being asked to make a booking by your boss/husband or wife/girlfriend click this link Going for the 1st time  now to get all the answers you need to book for Le Mans 24hrs 2009.   

Le Mans Classic 2008: A review

There is no better place to be than at the Le Mans circuit, in the sunshine, watching the performance cars of years gone by race each other to the limit. That is what over 80,000 spectators did this last weekend, as they enjoyed all that the Le Mans Classic has to offer.

Apart from some rain on Thursday evening, the weather was set fair for the whole weekend, which made things easier for all those camping on and off circuit. For the 400 or so, Travel Destinations guests in the Hunaudieres campsite, the atmosphere was expectant as practice began on Friday afternoon. Many of the guests that had arrived by then took to the banking at the Tertre Rouge corner, adjacent to the campsite, to witness the first of the grid one cars (1923 – 1939 models) take to the track. The Le Mans Classic is a biennial event so it is a long time to wait between events!

The Hunaudieres campsite was nearly full by Friday evening, and the laughter and drinks were flowing at the Travel Destinations free bar in the centre of the campsite. Thanks to all those who came and said hello, had a drink and helped keep the place nice a tidy for the next few days.

Saturday morning meant track lap time and 40 privileged cars lined up at the Hunaudieres gate for the opportunity to take their own cars twice around the famous circuit. Overtaking and competition was meant to be prohibited (really?) but the beaming smiles on all the driver’s faces as they returned to the campsite afterwards revealed another story! There were lots of jealous eyes watching their triumphant return. Maybe next time.

By mid afternoon, everyone settled in grandstand seats, trackside chairs, grass banking, and even the odd tree to see the start of the proper racing. On the start finish straight all the drivers lined up across the track, ready to run to their cars. And they were off!
OK, so the actual competition only really got underway fifteen minutes later as the cars crossed the start finish line for a rolling start, but what a great spectacle it all was. As afternoon turned in to evening all six grids made their start in what has to be the best line up of cars for endurance racing anywhere in the world.

When watching the racing was all too much, a wander down in to the paddock area was always rewarding. To see up close the cars of your dreams, either preparing for, or returning from, action is a must. Travel Destinations’ friend and driver Barry “Sideways” Sidery-Smith invited guests to join him in the paddock for a chat about his 2 MGBs and what it is like to race at Le Mans. Thank you to Barry and his crew for entertaining us at such a busy time for them.

And so come the end of Le Mans Classic on Sunday, what will be our greatest memory?

Will it be the Rileys battling the Talbots in Grid 1?
The Jaguar C-types versus Austin Healeys in Grid 2?
Aston Martin DB4 versus Porsche 356 in Grid 3?
Ferrari 275 versus Ford GT40 in Grid 4?
Porsche 917 versus Lola T70 in Grid 5?
Or
BMW M1 versus Chevrolet Corvette in Grid 6?

To be honest although they were great, but it will probably be none of the above. The highlight of the weekend was just being there with friends and like minded people enjoying the spectacle of the Le Mans Classic.

Do you have a unique story, photos or video from the Le Mans Classic 2008?
Please send it to sales@lemansrace.com and we will try to feature it here on www.lemansrace.com.

As the dust settles at the circuit after this year’s Le Mans 24 hours, our thoughts are already fully on next year’s race.

Whether you missed the chance to be at this year’s race, or if you are still catching up on sleep after a weekend enjoying the unique Le Mans experience, it is now the time to put your wheels in motion and reserve your space at the Le Mans 24 hours 2009.

Travel Destinations is offering you the opportunity to reserve your place at the 2009 race. As you may be aware there are plans for further developments at the circuit and this will put further pressure on all available campsites.

This means that it is more important than ever to reserve your space early!As an official agency for the Le Mans 24 hours we will now be in pole position to get all the tickets that you want in the locations that best suit you.

Although we cannot confirm exact prices until the autumn, at this stage we will make an advance registration for your channel crossings, race tickets, camping and grandstand seats free of charge. Once the prices have been confirmed we will then require a deposit to secure the reservation, and balances will be due 10 weeks before the race.

Call our reservations line now on (08700) 339923 or email us sales@lemansrace.com to reserve your space.

After 24 hours of fascinating racing at Le Mans, just 4 minutes separated the Audi team from the Peugeot team, with the Audi driven expertly by Allan McNish, Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen finishing ahead of the Peugeot driven Jacques Villeneuve, Marc Gene & Nicolas Minassian.

So Audi finished the 76th Le Mans 24 hours on top of the podium for the 5th consecutive time, and Danish driver Tom Kristensen finished ahead of the rest of the field for a record eighth victory.

The Peugeot cars got off to a flying start leading for much of the first half of the race, with their cars visibly more powerful than the Audis. However with Peugeots averaging a pit-stop every 11 laps, compared to Audi’s 12 laps, there was never very much distance between the teams.

As the rain began to fall in the 14th hour of the race, so the Audi cars came in to their own overtaking the Peugeots in the pits on lap 234 out of 381.By the morning, Audi’s lead was up to 3 minutes and despite a late attack by the Peugeot with Minassian at the wheel, the experience of Tom Kristensen and Audi kept ahead to reach the chequered flag first. Peugeot finished on the same lap just 4 minutes 31 seconds behind.

With diesel cars claiming the top 6 places, the unofficial award for top petrol engine car went to Pescarolo Sport. The LMP2 class was won by the Porsche Spyders in first and second place. Aston Martin successfully defended their LMGT1 title and the Ferraris dominated the LMGT2 class finishing in all the top 4 places.

With 55 teams originally accepted to take part in the Le Mans 24hrs this year, the race can easily become a blur. Below is a quick guide for what to look out for.

Le Mans Prototype 1: This is the top category of entrants in the race. Each car has a minimum weight of 925kg, and either has a 6 litre engine, 4 litre turbo or 5.5 litre Diesel engine. The LMP1 category has been dominated in recent years by the Audi Diesel R10. Not surprisingly, this year the works diesels are numbered 1, 2 & 3. New challengers this year are the Peugeot 908 diesels, and they are numbered 7 & 8. Although these cars are highly favoured, don’t be surprised to see them pushed all the way by the 3 petrol driven Pescarolos (numbers 16, 17 &18). All LMP1 cars will have white beam headlights.

Le Mans Prototype 2: Although they resemble the LMP1 cars with their white headlights, the LMP2 category are lighter by 125 kg and powered by a 3.4 litre engine or a 2 litre turbo. Traditionally dominated by Courage and Lola vehicles the LMP2 field is joined this year by Barazi Epsilon with 2 new Zytek 07S/2’s (numbers 32 &33) Also competing are the T2M Motorsport Dome (29) & Kruse Motorsport Pescarolo- Judd (44).

Le Mans Grand Touring 1: This hard fought category features vehicles that look more like production cars than the prototypes although still powered by 8 litre engine or 4 litre turbo. The LMGT1 cars will have yellow headlights. This year the LMGT1 category looks to be dominated by a fight between the Aston Martins (006 – 009) and the Corvettes (63, 64, 72 & 73). Although the JLOC ISAO Noritake’s Lamborghini Murcielago (53) may push them all close.

Le Mans Grand Touring 2: Another great battle is on the cards for the LMGT2 category with Ferrari F430GT’s going up against the ever popular Porsche 911 GT3 RSR’s. Also in this field are 2 LNT Panoz Esperantes (81 & 82) & 2 Spyker C8 Spyders (85 & 86).

In 2008 the Le Mans 24 hours headlines will probably focus on the battle between the Germans (Audi) and the French (Peugeot). But there will also be a strong British presence in all of the race classes:

Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1): This is the top category of entrants in the race, and in recent years the winner has come from this group in the form of the Audi Diesel R10 (Cars numbered 1,2 & 3). In 2008 the British are represented in this class by 3 teams. Team Creation (No. 14) will be fighting for honours alongside Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport (No.19) in their Lola. Perhaps favourite for highest placed British car will be the Pescarolo Judd of Rollcentre Racing (No. 18). All cars will have white headlights.

Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2): Another 3 British cars are to be represented in this lighter weight, smaller engine class, resembling their big brothers in LMP1. All cars will also have white headlights. Leading the way will hopefully be the RML team (No. 25) in their Lola MG. Competing with RML will be Team Bruichladdich (No.26) in their AER Radical, and the black coloured Zytek car from the Embassy team (No.45).

Le Mans Grand Touring 1 (LMGT1): Looking more like production cars and with yellow headlights, the LMGT1 class looks likely to be a straight shoot out between the British in their distinctive Aston Martin DBR9’s and the Corvettes of the French and American teams. Car Numbers 007 & 008 are being run again by Aston Martin Racing, whilst Team Modena is running a third Aston Martin in car number 59.

Le Mans Grand Touring 2 (LMGT2): The battle between Porsche and Ferrari continues to dominate the LMGT2 race. No less that 8 Ferrari F430 GT’s will go up against 3 Porsche 911 GT3’s in what has always been a close race. The one to watch from a British perspective will be Team Virgo Motorsport in car number 96; another red Ferrari! All LMGT2 cars will have yellow headlights.

This exceptional circuit (the longest in the world at 13.65 kms) bathes in an aura created by the most renowned manufacturers and the greatest drivers in motor sport. Since 1923 Bentley, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Ferrari, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Porsche, Matra, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and today Audi have all help to writing the Le Mans legend.

Travel Destinations are an official Automobile Club de L’Ouest (ACO) ticket, camping & Grandstand agent for the Le Mans 24hrs race and the Le Mans Classic.

We have a variety of self drive packages at exclusive prices, giving you the opportunity
to be at the heart of the action.

All our prices are fully inclusive of channel crossings & entrance tickets to the race and camping. You can choose from our on circuit campsites or camping in the tranquil grounds of one of three Château; so whether you want to stay by the track or away from the crowds, we have something for you.