Corvette Racing will mark the end of an era Saturday in Long Beach, Calif., with the final U.S. appearance by the Corvette C6.Rs in the GT1 category of the American Le Mans Series.

The series will give a send-off to the GT1 Corvettes in a special post-qualifying ceremony in the Long Beach winner's circle showcasing the championship-winning C6.R race cars and the production GT1 championship edition Corvette they inspired.

Later this season, the most successful sports car team in ALMS history will begin its transition to a new global GT class based on current GT2 regulations as GT1 is dropped.

Winner of the last eight ALMS GT1 team and manufacturer championships, Corvette Racing has posted 75 class wins worldwide, including a record 69 ALMS victories. Corvette Racing drivers have won a total of 13 ALMS class championships since 2002.

Since its debut in 2005, the Corvette C6.R has won 38 races, the most of any GT1 car and second all-time in ALMS history regardless of class.

"When the checkered flag falls at Long Beach, I think it will be a moving experience for everyone on the team," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "It will mark the closing of one chapter, the likes of which will never be written again in Corvette history.

"At the same time, it will mark the opening of another chapter that will eventually see Corvette competing in a global GT class under the international regulations that will come into effect next year."

Corvette driver Johnny O'Connell, racing in the GT1 class for nine years, said, "The GT1 Corvettes are among the coolest cars in racing history, and they've left their mark in the record books for Corvette, for Chevrolet and for sports car racing.

"Over the years, we've had great battles and rivalries with Viper, Ferrari, Saleen, Maserati, and Aston Martin. But we're moving to an even more competitive arena. ... The commitment to compete on the world stage is something that everyone at Chevrolet can be proud of."

TRACK PLAN

Wilson Sahara Motorsports has released details of a new motorsports complex that will be built in South Korea.

Alan Wilson, principal of WSM, the company that designed and constructed the acclaimed Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City, is now working on the Theme Auto Park Injae race facility to be built at Injae, east of Seoul.

"We have been working on this project for several months, and now that the concept for the facility has been agreed with the developers, Korea Racing Festival, we have begun the detail design phase that will see the complex open in 2011," Wilson said.

Wilson added that, while the new track will include Formula One-quality garages and spectator facilities, a hotel and a condominium building, it is not intended as an F1 venue.

"It will be designed to meet FIA Grade 2 standards and has the potential to host series such as Asia GP2, A1GP, Asian Le Mans Series and the Japanese Touring Car and GT championships," he said.

The 2.485-mile twin-layout track will include significant elevation changes and has been designed with specific attention to its impact on the environment and the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

SIMULATING RACING

It's no longer unusual for a driver who has success at a new track to credit a computer simulation with helping him learn the new layout.

But veteran John Andretti said knowing how many corners you have to deal with and where they are located isn't necessarily enough.

"I think if you're going to a new road course or a track you haven't seen before, virtual racing can be helpful," said Andretti, a regular in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series and also planning to race in this year's Indianapolis 500 in May. "They're pretty intricate in the details and it gives you some highlights so you're not completely surprised by anything in real life. It will help you, but there's no way virtual racing will ever be the same as actual racing, although they're getting it very, very close.

"I've read articles about simulators that actually have seat belts that pull back on you when you apply the brakes, so you feel like you're decelerating. That's cool, but there are still things that virtual racing can't duplicate, like when the grip level of a race car changes, or the sheer risk.

"When you drive into a corner too hard in reality, the penalty is big," he added. "When you're playing a game, you just reset the button and start over."