This is my third time to the Le Mans 24 Hrs, and feel very fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to attend this race. Hope you like the photos.For the past two years my wife and I stayed in a hotel at Le Mans or Le Fertre Bernard (about 30 minutes by train from Le Mans). This year we tried something different since finding accommodation at Le Mans is difficult and expensive. For this years race my wife stayed in Paris since we planned to spend a week vacation here. I previously brought a General Admission ticket and tickets to Grandstands 18 (ACO stand which overlooks the front straight and the Audi Pits, and has an area to buy food and private restrooms and showers) and 23 (which overlooks the “S” Ford Curves). Also renewed my ACO membership which enables you to enter the ACO Enclosures at an area on the inside of the track after Dunlop Bridge and in Stand 18. This way I had different vantage points to shoot from and places to stay at for shelter and to rest at different parts of the track. Its amazing how large this track is and how long it can take to get to different parts of the track due to the crowds of people on race days.

On the Saturday for the race I took the 9.53 am TGV from Gare Montparnasse train station in Paris to Le Mans. The trip only took about 1 hour and I arrived at Le Mans around 11 am. I pre-booked the train trip and return tickets on the web before the trip, since this train can get crowded. At Le Mans I brought a return tram ticket and took the tram from the train station to the track. Arrived at the track at about 11.30 am.

The Esses for the start of the race

The race didn’t start until 3.00 pm, and scouted the area around the outside of the track in The Esses area, since this year I wanted to get some shots of the cars during the start of the race “bunched” up and going down The Esses. Found a small hill which overlooked The Esses near the entrance to a concrete overlook which the track marshalls and pro photographers use. Even though you could get a clear shot of The Esses since their was no catch fencing to worry about, the challenge was being able to get a clear shot of the track between people who would stand in the concrete overlook and spectators in front of you on the small hill. This area became very crowded with spectators and other photographers. The key is to have a lens which is long enough to be able to shoot through these obstacles. Also had a good chat with other motorsport photographers.

The Le Mans 24 Hrs Trophy being driven around the track before the start of the race (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 800)

Audi R18 e-tron quattros (Audi Sport Team Joest, LMP1 class) leading at the start of the race (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4.5, 1/800, -1EV, ISO 320)

A pair of Toyota TS030 Hybrids (Toyota Racing, LMP1 class) (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4.5, 1/1000, -1EV, ISO 320)

Lotus T128-Praga leading a Morgan-Nissan Oak Racing and HPD ARX 03b-Honda Level 5 Motorsports (LMP2 class) (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/800, -1EV, ISO 250)

Morgan-Judd (Morand Racing) leading other LMP2 class cars (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4.5, 1/1000, -1EV, ISO 320)

Ferrari 458 Italia (AF Corse) leading other GTE Pro class cars (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 400)

Aston Martin Vantage GTE (Aston Martin Racing) leading other LM GTE Pro class cars (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/800, -1EV, ISO 250)

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (IMSA Performance Matmut, LM GTE AM class) (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/800, -1EV, ISO 250)

SRT Viper GTS-R (SRT Motorsports, LM GTE Pro class) (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/1000, -1EV, ISO 500)

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (Dempsey – Del Piero Proton, LM GTE AM class) (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/1000, -1EV, ISO 500)

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