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Le Mans – This and That

Le Mans – This and That

23. November 2006It took a lot more time than usual for the “This and That Report” to appear, but the fact that we wanted to let matters calm down a bit, or that we had to recover from the nocturnal party, was not the only reason. In fact, there was a series of inconceivable occurrences and maybe misunderstandings and even annoyances. However, the erection of the paddock went more smoothly then could have hoped – thanks to the personal interference of Fabien Calvet. But in Le Mans, even more than everywhere else, there seem to be a large number of people who want to have a say in all matters. And this leads to discords which mostly arise from lack of comprehension, because scarcely anybody of the French people responsible there does speak any foreign language. But the exorbitant controls are really most annoying. On Saturday morning, when entering at the South entrance, we had to endure nine checks – two of them within a distance of about 10 metres – taking 30 minutes altogether.
But first to the paddock. The international FIA pilots will never understand, why on earth only the French teams are allowed to stay in the more spacious paddock with the even ground and the attached tents, while the foreign teams, although many of them require a lot more space, have to crowd together on the sloping parking area with the obstructing kerbstones everywhere. As a result there were sharp letters of protest sent to the FIA from some of the teams affected.
And the great many construction works within the area of the circuit added to the problems, but on the other hand they raise hopes that this may improve the conditions in the future. For the weather, of course, nobody can be held responsible, but in the last 4 years – since the final round of the European Championship was always held in Le Mans at the end of October – there was hardly a racing weekend that wasn’t affected by the weather. Next year the races in Le Mans will be held in September, so that there are reasonable chances for better weather conditions.
For the media people there was an unexpected change in regard to the equipment they had last year. Usually, all the international circuits have a wireless network by now, making it possible to also use the internet out of the press centre’s opening hours, which are rather restricted. Last year this was the case in Le Mans, too, but this year they only provided internet cable connections. However, this service was free of charge – contrary to the earlier announcement.
There will certainly never be a rational explanation for the fact that accredited journalist are only allowed to get to several photographer’s spots alongside the track after very tight inspections and only when wearing media vests of a specific colour, while the families of the marshals and drivers of the tow trucks set up camping tables and “park” their prams there. But similar scenarios can be seen not only in Le Mans.
At the last night of the season, after the FIA ceremony, at the parties thrown by Mercedes Benz in the Hahn marquee and by MAN in the Bernau marquee, pleasantries were exchanged, and who would have expected that, considering the course of the season. True to the motto “after the season is before the season” it was expected that now, at least, the protagonists would definitely announce their plans for next year’s engagement in truck racing. But especially from Mercedes Benz – where everybody had hoped to hear some news – there was no decision up till now, while Renault, and first and foremost MAN, already stated that they would intensify their engagement in 2007. But truck racing means competition, and it only makes sense, when the contestants are evenly matched. There were those years, when there was only lone fighter Jochen Hahn who, in the top bracket, was a match for the apparently almighty MAN RaceTrucks. Last year they were joined by the Buggyra Freightliners, and this year there were not more than four MAN trucks among the top ten ranking. And it’s this diversity that, for a great part, provides the attraction of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship.