Le Mans 2012: the best views are from the sky

Amazing place, Le Mans. The circuit is over eight miles in length, which can make it a rather tricky to see everything. Unless you’re above it.

There are a number of different ways to achieve this – including the famous Ferris wheel and various other fairground rides. But being a jammy git I ended up in suspended from a crane just in time for the start.

It’s called a “grandstand in the sky”, and involves being strapped into a racing seat and hoisted into the air while two dudes in the middle serve you drinks. Apparently the same company does dinners in the same fashion. Wild. And as close as you can get to being in a helicopter over Le Mans without being in a helicopter.

Speaking of which:

Yep. Ridiculously I know, but I’ve managed to get a ride in a paraffin budgie for a full lap around the circuit while the race is on.

Sure puts the Mulsanne straight into perspective – incredible to think what it must have been like seeing cars race here without the speed-sapping chicanes and with (comparatively) rubbish brakes. Even caught the DeltaWing in action, before it met its unfortunate demise.

I also did a little spectating at the Dunlop Curve. Great place to watch, as scrapping cars attempt to out-brake each other, and the camber falls away on the turn-in. The Audis made it look effortless, but you could also tell the Toyotas – still running at this point – were starting to hustle really hard.

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