LMS Test, Paul Ricard – Ambience

Despite having spent the majority of my DSC career so far at UK circuits, I have had the opportunity over the years to work at Le Mans, Spa, Pau, Oschersleben, Dubai and Road Atlanta; and so have a reasonable idea of what to expect when arriving at a circuit, and what the facilities will be like

But Paul Ricard is something else entirely.

First impressions of the place are of a spotless facility, with well-groomed and efficient staff; and that impression is reinforced throughout.

The requirements of a journalist at a circuit are desk-space, a plug for the laptop, internet access and a timing screen. Remarkable as it sounds, these three things are by no means guaranteed at even Formula One circuits; but at Bernie’s pad, all are in abundance.

Here we have all of the above, plus a screen showing the circuit layout with real-time tracking of each car’s position.

The pit garages are also immensely impressive; each having its own office housing a dozen people comfortably.

Even the spectators are well catered for, with a ceiling set on the numbers – the right crowd and no crowding? Indeed, we have already had confirmation from Ian Macbeth that no more tickets are being sold; and he only got in by hitching a lift on the back of the Luc Alphand tyre trolley.

Security staff are polite and there’s not a fluorescent tabard in sight.

The whole place is an insight into the mindset of the F1 boss and it’s suddenly easier to understand why he has such an issue with certain circuits around the world.

MH