This was due to one of the major highlights and the reasons for this trip around Europe.

We arrived late on the Wednesday afternoon hoping to get a good pitch for the next 5 nights. We found the camping with relatively little trouble having negotiated some small roads and large oncoming vehicles unscathed. The security and site Marshalls were really friendly and guided us towards a pitch that we accommodate our motorhome and camper van convoy. It did not take long and we seemed to have a good spot with a few trees. However, the less said about the F1 camping experience in Castellet the better. Suffice to say that after I would be quite happy to never go to another Formula 1 race if we are camping. Its expensive, the majority of people on the site were animals - it was simply disgusting! There were 4 toilets, 4 urinals 2 small hand basins and 12 showers for the 1000+ men that were on our site. The ladies were a little better supplied but this was soon ruined as the men invaded the ladies facilities within the first day. The remaining details are best left out of this blog.

Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France

The race and the circuit - I am pleased to report that these were really very good. It was a short 20 minute walk from our site to the primary entrance to the circuit where we were met by very friendly security checking us and our bags before entering the circuit. They were all smiling and wishing us a good day. This was our experience every day we entered the site! Fabulous.

As for the circuit facilities and layout, it was all pretty good. It seemed well organised and not too busy apart from the pit walks and meeting the drivers. We later found out that they had only sold about 45% of the tickets, hence it was quiet around the general viewing areas.

A selection of the F1 drivers, Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France

After watching a little of the free practice sessions and lower formulas qualify we headed back to our site… the long way! It took us way over an hour to negotiate the rough terrain and poor signage back to our campsite and it was really hot and dusty work so we were less than pleased with the ice-cold showers that awaited us again.

However, our luck changed when we were offered free upgrades to seats in a stand for the Saturday and Sunday. With a couple of emails to and fro we were told when and where to be to collect our tickets. The seats were great, the stand less than 25% full either day and although there was no cover over the stand, there was a constant breeze cooling us while watching the qualifying and racing for the weekend.

The race winner, F1 of France Grand Prix 2019

Whilst in the stands we met a lovely couple that had travelled all the way from Edinburgh. The were so chatty and friendly (as everyone is we seemed to meet while we are away on our journey). We also met a father and son from the south coast of England. They were great company too and I was jealous of the dad for his ability to switch from English to French with no effort whatsoever. I don’t know if he spoke other languages too, by I suspected he did.

Sadly the F1 race was not very exciting, however, we all really enjoyed the Clio Cup race, the F1 drivers parade and the sense of occasion.

It is nice to have ticked this Grand Prix off, but I would think it would be unlikely that we would return anytime soon. It needs to get a few more things right before I would be willing to drive the 1000+ miles each way and warrant the money for the weekend passes (if we had bought the entry + grandstand tickets it would have been €279 per person).