Last run for the Corvette GT1

Long Beach fans will have the honor of watching the final American Le Mans Series GT1 race ever contested on U.S. soil when the green flag drops at 4:15 p.m. today. Because of Corvette Racing's unprecedented success in the GT1 class and a lack of any real competition, the class will cease to be – at least in North America – following today's race. Corvette will run one last GT1 race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June and then return to ALMS in the GT2 class at Mid-Ohio Aug. 8.

"We essentially became victims of our own success," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. Corvette has won the last eight team and manufacturer GT1 championships and 69 ALMS races since coming to the series in 1999. The lack of competition and significant rules changes for the 2010 season precipitated the move."

"They were tired of racing themselves," said ALMS president and CEO Scott Atherton. "They wanted some competition."

Atherton added the decision was Corvette's alone and called it "an example of natural selection."

Fehan attributed Corvette’s success to the dedicated people within the program and an environment that encourages creativity.

"At the end of the day, people win races," he said. "… This is a people business. Technology happens to be the product." More at Long Beach Press Telegram