This tour is now full
France is one the favourite holiday destinations in the world and over 70,000 Britons annually invade La Sarthe for the legendary 24 Heures du Mans. Combine the two and enjoy France’s ambience and gastronomy with the added unique spectacle of the world’s fastest sports prototypes and GT’s battling for acceptance in the June race. All the teams invited to Les Preliminaires have to take part and put in a strong performance to be considered for final entry.
Accommodation
Stay for two nights at a picturesque 15th-Century restored castle, located just 20 mins from the circuit.
Itinerary
Friday 1st June
Take the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Caen, departing at 23.15. En-suite cabins are booked for your comfort.
Saturday 2nd June
Arrive in Caen at 07.15 and follow a scenic route to Hotel La France at La Chartre sur Loir for lunch. This is where many famous teams have stayed in the past and it is full of 24 Hour race memorabilia and souvenirs. After lunch there is an overall tour of the circuit including the public road sections. Take the chance to visit to the famous Old Town of Le Mans with its appealing cobbled streets, quaint half-timbered houses and beautiful Renaissance mansions.
There will be a gastronomic dinner at a local restaurant on the banks of the River Sarthe.
Sunday 3rd June
Les Preliminaires takes place from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, but you do not need to stay all day if you do not wish to. There is an optional visit to the 24 Hour Race Museum followed by lunch in the new ‘Village’ within the circuit. Spend the afternoon viewing the cars in action at Arnage, Indiananoplis and Mulsanne corners. Dinner will be a lakeside barbecue.
Monday 4th June
You have a free morning, so maybe take the chance to do a little shopping, or more sightseeing. Drive north to the restored Domaine de Belleme on the edge of a forest for lunch. Return to Caen to take the ferry home at 17.00 hours.
Details
Dates:
Start: 1st June 2007
End: 4th June 2007
Duration: 3 days
This tour is now full
Price:
£540 per person - based on two people per car and sharing a twin or double room
What’s included
- Two nights accommodation in a castle
- One night onboard the Portsmouth-Caen ferry
- Breakfast each morning in France
- Dinner on both evenings in France
- A comprehensive tour book, detailing your route, accommodation and everything to do, see and visit each day
- A European road atlas
- Rally plaque
- Experienced and friendly Classic Travelling tour guide
- Return ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Caen with Brittany Ferries, with en-suite cabin
- Lunch each day
- Tour of the Le Mans circuit
- Visit to Musee de la Sarthe - 24 Hour Race Museum
- Entry to the Le Mans circuit to watch Les Preliminaires
What’s not included
- Fuel & road tolls
- Personal travel & medical insurance
- We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited
- All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences
Requirements
- Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for France and any other countries you may visit to participate on the tour.
All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour. - You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
- Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
- You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, two fluorescent jackets, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
- Les Preliminaires weekend is open to any classic, vintage or sports type vehicle, of any age. However, the most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.
Booking
Apart from our scheduled, escorted group tours, none of our itineraries are set in stone - after all, this is your holiday - so we can fine-tune any aspect of these tours to meet your wishes. Any of our escorted tours may also be taken as a private, independent tour, at a time to suit you.
We work closely with a number of classic and spots car hire companies across the UK, Europe, and beyond, so we can arrange your car hire for you , too. Please contact us for futher details and the cars we have available.
