Aysedasi's Le Mans Story - 2000

Le Mans 2000 - Ayse's Story

Page 16 - Sunday 18th June - The End of the Race and Chris Goes Off-Piste Again...

So two cars drove back to the circuit where we were able to park in Garage Rouge. Once into the circuit we paused in the Village for a cold drink in what was by now blistering sunshine. At this point Peter, Martyn and I said farewell to Ian and Robert as they would be heading off for the drive back to Paris. The three of us watched the remainder of the race from the Dunlop Curve which was handy for a quick escape back to the car in the Garage Rouge at the end.

At the end of the race (easily won by Audi with a choreographed 1-2-3) the three of us quickly made our way back to the car in the Garage Rouge and were out of Le Mans on the way for a meal with the others at Honfleur by 4.10 pm. As had been agreed with Chris and the others before we left Indianapolis, we were to rendezvous part-way at Fyé for a drink.

We arrived there at 4.45 and enjoyed a leisurely drink while waiting for Chris. By 5.30 we assumed that they must have been badly held up on leaving the circuit. By 6.15 they still hadn't arrived leaving us to assume that, just as happened on Saturday evening, they had gone off to Honfleur without waiting for us. We finally arrived in Honfleur at 8.45 pm. I was very tired of course and slept most of the way. On arriving, we saw a distinctive turquoise jeep in the car park! On touring around the restaurants we finally found Chris, Jeff, Alan and Clive three quarters of the way through their meal. I have to say that the atmosphere was pretty strained, particularly when we learned that they had left the circuit long before the end - at 2.30 pm! Martin, Peter and I finally got a meal...
After eating quickly, we set off for the ferry port, arriving at 9.45 for the 10.15 pm sailing. Needless to say, we made no attempt to travel in convoy with the Jeep crew! We were onto the Pride of Portsmouth by 10.30 (the return sailings are very often delayed as they're so busy). After a quick visit to the shop onboard it was down to the bowels of the ship to our cabin for some sleep.
We docked at about 6 am and were off the ferry at 6.30 for the journey back to Ian's house to pick up our cars. Martyn, Peter and I arrived first and we did have the courtesy to wait for the others to say goodbye.... Peter and I soon headed off for home and a frosty reception for me...