From 2010 to 2013, Formula One made station in South Korea at the Korea Interntional Circuit - and then never came back. Now, you can tackle the circuit in Assetto Corsa.
The Korea International Circuit was designed to be Formula One's long-term home in a picturesque setting in Yeongam, South Korea. The circuit was on the path to being a mainstay until it disappeared after just four years. However, within Assetto Corsa you can now relive the few Grands Prix the circuit did hold, as well as create some new stories.
With a harbour reminiscent of Monte Carlo's and a stadium section, the Korea International Circuit looked set to stay in the early 2010s. Formula One was expanding to more new venues, and another circuit added to the calendar in a new country was a welcomed affair. Korea International Circuit was initially set to stay until 2016. Until the money dried up.
Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus Formula One Team at Turn 6
The original deal between Ecclestone and the promoter, Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO), was to have the circuit present on the calendar until at least the 2016 Formula One season, with an option to extend the deal to 2021. This would fall apart after just four events had taken place between 2010 and 2013.
Daniel Ricciardo and teammate Jean-Éric Vergne's Toro Rosso's exiting turn 2
The idea behind the Monaco-style marina was to bring people from all over the world to that region of South Korea. The metropolis idea behind the circuit was that that section of the track would be semi-permanent with shops and restaurants, and a shopping mall was to be in its place for the rest of the year.
With the first Grand Prix just a small handful of weeks away in 2010, the circuit was still not ready to have Formula One complete a full weekend at the venue. The FIA track inspection sign-off had been delayed, so much so that it was only signed the day before the first car would take to the track.
The bare grandstands at turn one
Once the Grand Prix weekend did get underway in 2010, the attendance was mild at best. This continued to dwindle with each coming year of the Grand Prix. South Korea and Formula One did not seem to be the match that both sides had hoped for.
This meant that in the following years, the race turned out not to be financially viable, and the Korean Grand Prix was history after its 2013 edition. Only two drivers ever won the event, namely Fernando Alonso in 2010, and Sebastian Vettel from 2011 to 2013 during his dominant Red Bull Racing years.
Turn two at the end of the second long straight.
The circuit was created for the original rFactor by Macci Design and has been converted to Assetto Corsa with permission by OverTake community member chilenaoexiste. This circuit is not a rip from the Formula One games, but is a scratch-built project that has been converted with permission from the original rFactor mod.
To reflect all four Korean Grands Prix, the track comes with skins from each year the circuit was run (2010- 2013) in F1. On top of that, there are four layouts which include the original Grand Prix layout, the altered pitlane that was used in 2013, the shorter national circuit used in modern-day applications and finally, the short Grand Prix loop - all of them are included in the mod.
Jenson Button, McLaren 2013
The track is well made with a detailed road surface that translates to a good amount of feel through the wheel. The kerbs are deadly and very slippery, so make sure you are careful with how much you use them, especially in open wheelers.
The AI are certainly fast around this Asian venue, but at certain points on the circuit, they like to randomly either stop completely or slow down a lot more than necessary. This is not necessarily a problem with the circuit, but more with Assetto Corsa's AI. However, it is something to be aware of when racing wheel to wheel.
Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas side by side at turn three, Williams and Red Bull
What do you think about this forgotten-about Formula One venue? Which series would you like to see race here in the future? Let us know in the comments down below!
The Korea International Circuit was designed to be Formula One's long-term home in a picturesque setting in Yeongam, South Korea. The circuit was on the path to being a mainstay until it disappeared after just four years. However, within Assetto Corsa you can now relive the few Grands Prix the circuit did hold, as well as create some new stories.
With a harbour reminiscent of Monte Carlo's and a stadium section, the Korea International Circuit looked set to stay in the early 2010s. Formula One was expanding to more new venues, and another circuit added to the calendar in a new country was a welcomed affair. Korea International Circuit was initially set to stay until 2016. Until the money dried up.
Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus Formula One Team at Turn 6
The History Of The Korean Grand Prix
To have a Grand Prix in South Korea had been on the radar of then-Chief Executive of Formula One Group, Bernie Ecclestone, for several years before the idea was brought into reality. Yeongam, South Jeolia is where the circuit is located - which was the first mistake. The circuit is nearly four 400 kilometres away from the country's capital, Seoul.The original deal between Ecclestone and the promoter, Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO), was to have the circuit present on the calendar until at least the 2016 Formula One season, with an option to extend the deal to 2021. This would fall apart after just four events had taken place between 2010 and 2013.
Daniel Ricciardo and teammate Jean-Éric Vergne's Toro Rosso's exiting turn 2
The idea behind the Monaco-style marina was to bring people from all over the world to that region of South Korea. The metropolis idea behind the circuit was that that section of the track would be semi-permanent with shops and restaurants, and a shopping mall was to be in its place for the rest of the year.
With the first Grand Prix just a small handful of weeks away in 2010, the circuit was still not ready to have Formula One complete a full weekend at the venue. The FIA track inspection sign-off had been delayed, so much so that it was only signed the day before the first car would take to the track.
The bare grandstands at turn one
Once the Grand Prix weekend did get underway in 2010, the attendance was mild at best. This continued to dwindle with each coming year of the Grand Prix. South Korea and Formula One did not seem to be the match that both sides had hoped for.
This meant that in the following years, the race turned out not to be financially viable, and the Korean Grand Prix was history after its 2013 edition. Only two drivers ever won the event, namely Fernando Alonso in 2010, and Sebastian Vettel from 2011 to 2013 during his dominant Red Bull Racing years.
Assetto Corsa's role in reviving the Korean Grand Prix
The beauty of Assetto Corsa is the creativity of the community behind the game. This faithful recreation of the Korea International Circuit brings it back to life for modern sim racers. The circuit is available here on OverTake.gg from the creator @chilenaoexiste. Plus, the livery pack for the 2013 Formula One cars you see in the screenshots is also available for free in our download section for the proper flair.Turn two at the end of the second long straight.
The circuit was created for the original rFactor by Macci Design and has been converted to Assetto Corsa with permission by OverTake community member chilenaoexiste. This circuit is not a rip from the Formula One games, but is a scratch-built project that has been converted with permission from the original rFactor mod.
To reflect all four Korean Grands Prix, the track comes with skins from each year the circuit was run (2010- 2013) in F1. On top of that, there are four layouts which include the original Grand Prix layout, the altered pitlane that was used in 2013, the shorter national circuit used in modern-day applications and finally, the short Grand Prix loop - all of them are included in the mod.
Jenson Button, McLaren 2013
The track is well made with a detailed road surface that translates to a good amount of feel through the wheel. The kerbs are deadly and very slippery, so make sure you are careful with how much you use them, especially in open wheelers.
The AI are certainly fast around this Asian venue, but at certain points on the circuit, they like to randomly either stop completely or slow down a lot more than necessary. This is not necessarily a problem with the circuit, but more with Assetto Corsa's AI. However, it is something to be aware of when racing wheel to wheel.
Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas side by side at turn three, Williams and Red Bull
What do you think about this forgotten-about Formula One venue? Which series would you like to see race here in the future? Let us know in the comments down below!
