Held on the first weekend of July, this event gathers an incredible lineup of more than 700 historic racing cars spanning from the 1920s to the early 2000s. Taking place every two years at the Circuit de la Sarthe, with over 230000 visitors attending, this is not just a classic car race, it is an immersion into over a century of motorsport, with period correct fashion and lifestyle surrounding the event.

The first stop on my way from Luxembourg to Le Mans was a short detour to the old Reims Gueux Circuit, once part of the Formula 1 calendar in the 1950s. The circuit lies just outside of Reims and the track itself now serves as a normal road, which means I was able to park my WebCamper right in front of the old grandstands. Although racing ceased here decades ago, the pit buildings, timing towers, and faded sponsor logos remain. It is a rare opportunity to walk alongside a piece of motorsport history in its original setting.

From Reims, I passed through Paris and headed west toward the first overnight stop, Camping Chateau de Chanteloup, just north of Le Mans. This classy five star campsite, set around a nineteenth century chateau, was the perfect introduction to the weekend, as the location is a fan favorite among car enthusiasts. As a result, the entire site was full of classic cars lining the gravel paths and parked under majestic century old trees.

The next morning, it was time to explore the Sarthe region. A scenic sidetrack through Beaumont sur Sarthe and Fresnay sur Sarthe offered quintessential French village charm, stone bridges, sleepy cafes, and local markets.

A must see stop was the iconic Hotel de France in La Chartre sur le Loir. Ever since the 1960s, this hotel has been the unofficial base of Aston Martin, Ford, and Gulf Porsche race teams. Steve McQueen stayed here while filming his movie Le Mans. The bar is filled with black and white photos of racing greats and memorabilia. Needless to say, the hotel is fully booked for race week. However, you can have a drink at the bar during the day, which is more than enough to get a feel for the history of the place.

I then followed the river to Fille sur Sarthe, which is one of the key filming locations for the opening of Steve McQueens Le Mans film.

From here it was only a short drive to the official Le Mans Classic campground. As I approached the entrance to the Bugatti Circuit, the scale of the event truly hit me. Thousands of people and vehicles were streaming in, creating a buzz of anticipation and excitement. Camping within the infield of the circuit, in some spots less than ten meters from the track, is a rare privilege. Another interesting aspect of camping at Le Mans is the sight of die hard car enthusiasts driving their prized classic cars from all over the continent, only to set up camp beside them with nothing more than a simple tent.

I was lucky to find a great spot shaded by a row of trees, offering a cool retreat from the summer sun. After quickly setting up the camper and getting everything in place for a comfortable stay, it was finally time to dive into the action and head straight toward the main event.

What makes this event truly unique is the caliber of the vehicles on display. Many of them are hidden gems tucked away in private collections or rarely seen outside of exclusive concours events. Le Mans Classic is often their only public outing, which gives the event a sense of rare authenticity.

Beyond the racing and fashion, there is plenty to explore, including clubs, vintage car auctions, manufacturer displays, pop up museums, and automobilia markets offering everything from enamel signs to original Le Mans posters. You could easily spend all four days on site and still not see everything.

Le Mans Classic also embraces the aesthetics of its golden eras. Many visitors dress in period correct outfits, adding to the feeling of stepping into a different time.

In conclusion, attending Le Mans Classic in a camper van was the best decision I could have made. Not only does it give you flexibility and comfort, as having your own base means you can come and go between the different events and explore the surroundings of Le Mans as well as the city itself, but it also allows you to stay immersed in the whole experience. With so many enthusiasts camping in or near their vintage vehicles, being on site after hours is part of the magic.

Le Mans Classic is not just any motorsport event, it is a living, breathing celebration of everything we love about cars, culture, and community. And if you want to enjoy it all in comfort and style, bringing a camper makes it even better.