Tunnel to Le Mans Route?

[RussellFunnell]

Guys,

I'm off to Le Mans this year with a bunch of friends and rather than take the fast, boring toll roads down to Le Mans I'd like to take a nice drivers route down, like the sort of drive we did in the Ardennes last year.

I'm guessing that a few of you must have done a Le Mans drive before, so looking for some inspiration for a good route please []

Many thanks

Russell

 

[markiii]

can't help with the route

but compared to the Ardennes take it easy in the week up to Lemans there will be a tone of unmarked amera cars especially as you get close to Le Man itself

 

[Melv]

Set Satnav to 'Avoid motorways'. []

 

[garyw]

Russell
We always tend to go for lunch at Honfluer and then head into Lemans via the old North road N158
This misses Rouen and many of the awaiting money traps.

Sure, the road is monitored but there tends to be some great machinery on the way to watch, Sees tends to be a place to stop off for a coffee and watch the cars go by too.
Best behaviour once you're on the Autoroute though []
I'll try and email you a copy of our route once we've decided it 100%

 

[RussellFunnell]

Nice one Gary, that'd be great if you can []

Cheers Russell

 

[DaveS]

Would also appreciate a copy of the route please as I will be driving down on the Thursday..first time at LeMans..can't wait!!
DaveS

 

[garyw]

Final route is still undecided as yet- however reading the forums I'd say to all to keep away from Rouen as one of the major bridges/throughroutes is closed following a fire.

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: DaveS

Would also appreciate a copy of the route please as I will be driving down on the Thursday..first time at LeMans..can't wait!!
DaveS

First time for my brother, so I'll be doing the old school trip this year, with the Friday parade, pit walk, British welcome and overnight into the forest []
We're on the Thursday morning train...

 

[tony1066]

'Stolen' from Pistonheads.

gt6 said:
i presume you are driving so the route i use now is very easy
Leave calais join motorway and head for rouen (old roads on this part are now almost impossible to use) from Rouen head along the motorway towards caen and then turn of just past the castle on your right (Robert the diable) Follow the route nationale (old n138 now d338) and stay on that road all the way to Le mans.
Only tolls are on the first part of the motorway to rouen and plenty of great places to stop after rouen.
Wise words. You can also mix'n'match onto the autoroute to bypass Alencon or speed up the final run into LM.

The only other tips for the above route are:

1) is to watch out for the sneaky left turn not long after leaving the autoroute at Robert le Diable (the road is a little worn out to it might appear you've gone wrong)

2) The road sign will say 'Le Mans' but will guide you onto the autoroute, so you'll need a printout of the route to know which village/town is next on the Route Nationale so as not to get lost.

3) On the return journey, don't forget to stop following signs for Rouen and start looking for 'Boulogne/Calais' otherwise you will end up in the suburbs.

 

[Stephen Fowell]

I have recently been to Le Mans and have used the alternative route around Rouen as the problems are severe,the Route is clearly signposted from the Motorway but not so from other routes.

As the route is to the West of Rouen traffic from other ports will be joining the road so could be busy in the lead up to Le Mans.

Stephen

 

[garyw]

Well, it looks like;
Abbeville on the AutoRoute, off the motorway and enjoy the coast road towards Le Harve, lunch at Honfleur []
From there its the old road down but missing out Sees this year as it's looking to be very heavy handed police wise. [&:]

Convoy of the five cars so far, should be in Honfleur at around midday...
Cars just back and fighting fit.. []

 

[Lancerlot]

Front corner all repaired, then?

I'll be keeping an eye out on the box. Is it going to be wet?

Have a great time. Wish I was there - but not camping though! [&:]

Regards,

Clive.

 

[garyw]

Motors going to be wearing it's battle scars proudly []
The wrap in the end only caught about 40% of the damage [:'(] so a repair on that following this trip
All other parts replaced and repaired under £250.... plus tax.. so overall pleased with the running costs as that's similar to a chin spoiler on the old motor..

 

[Alex L]

Hi Gary, I am truely baffled by the idea that you'd willingly swop a McLaren for a 991 Turbo.

The McLaren must be fundamentally flawed somewhere for you to consider this. I haven't heard you mention this flaw yet though - hence my confusion...

A convertible red McLaren is my ultimate dream right now. That or a slightly more expensive F12 (but that's a lottery winning ticket car).

 

[garyw]

Alex, I must be writing the wrong things then! []
The 991 Turbo order is cancelled, the looks just aren't there for me [] the drive may be wonderful but for it's price point it needs to be!!
The GT3 is a different story, certainly after having some brilliant driving experiences with Andy in France I think its a cracking car...

However I'm being treated very well on this side of the fence and many of the owners want to drive their cars- something I know Clive missed when he dipped his toes in Italian waters.
I've got nearly 8K on the car and now connecting with it.
It isn't as usable as the Porsche this I've learnt, but were both enjoying whole the experience.

 

[Alex L]

Thanks for the clarification Gary.

So what makes it less usable than a 911? 2wd, vertical doors, wider, no back seats, higher fuel consumption, too much attention?

The ride is supposed to be better than a Rolls according to Chris Harris and apart from heavy long travel pedals and low speed creep is meants to be great in town too.

From an outsider, there is only one thing wrong with the McLaren - the design of the back end. Other than that :drool:

I think my next car is between a 991 GT3, a McLaren or a Lamborghini. The Gallardo is archaic in comparison though but much more of an assault on the senses. Need to move house first so may be a couple years away.

Sorry for going off topic OP [&o]

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: Alex L

Thanks for the clarification Gary.

So what makes it less usable than a 911? 2wd, vertical doors, wider, no back seats, higher fuel consumption, too much attention?

The ride is supposed to be better than a Rolls according to Chris Harris and apart from heavy long travel pedals and low speed creep is meants to be great in town too.

Well it's certainly no Rolls Royce ride!! [8D]
It is very compliant in the standard mode- very much Porsche style rather than RR,
Most of the other bits are correct other than it had better MPG on the SOF trip than quite a few others there!!