Russia in line to host a race from 2014

[elfinitty]

^^Yes ,snow race please,there has never been one!
Bernie loves money,he supported the idea of Petrov staying,which is now official.I doubt if he can get the money he wants,though

[andrew]

A snow race in an F1 car, whilst entertaining, would be nigh impossible!

[Hammer278]

That's what they said about night races when Malaysia first proposed the idea around the 2000s. I remember the reaction then, 'ridiculous', 'highly dangerous', etcetc, and then guess who's neighbour stole the idea and implemented it!

[andrew]

Night races are easy for F1. Just get a hell of a lot of high power floodlights and you're good to go. A snow race would require quite a bit of modification to the cars.

[LewEngBridewell]

A snow race would require quite a bit of modification to the cars.

And the tyres!

[andrew]

A snow race would require quite a bit of modification to the cars.

And the tyres!

Goes with out saying - narrow and spiked they would be. And 4 wheel steering - probably.

The biggest question for me would be could an F1 engine be geared down enough so that its power is usable on snow and ice?

[Hammer278]

The engineers can take care of the throttle response, gear ratios and engine mapping for that. Definitely doable...cars in the 90s were allowed to race in heavy rain and floods...today though, the races are either stopped/safety car parade. More of a question if society would allow it, which I think is a negative....F1 has officially become 'kittenized' (since this is a family forum).

[andrew]

Driving on snow is very different kettle of fish to driving in torrential rain.

[Hammer278]

We have achieved it with road cars. I'm sure the challenge will be welcomed by the high profile engineers in Formula 1. But my point is it won't be allowed to happen anyway...so let's leave it at that.

[racechick]

A snow race in an F1 car, whilst entertaining, would be nigh impossible!

Just shift Silverstone forward like Bernie tried once and we could well have it.

[andrew]

A snow race in an F1 car, whilst entertaining, would be nigh impossible!

Just shift Silverstone forward like Bernie tried once and we could well have it.

Pfft! That's just a harsh frost!

[LewEngBridewell]

A snow race in an F1 car, whilst entertaining, would be nigh impossible!

Just shift Silverstone forward like Bernie tried once and we could well have it.

Pfft! That's just a harsh frost!

Scottish Highlands GP?

[andrew]

A snow race in an F1 car, whilst entertaining, would be nigh impossible!

Just shift Silverstone forward like Bernie tried once and we could well have it.

Pfft! That's just a harsh frost!

Scottish Highlands GP?

Far too sensible. You're banned good Sir!

[darwin dali]

Sochi climate data:
Sochi has a humid subtropical climate (Koppen climate classification Cfa)—, at the lower elevations. Its average annual temperature is 14 °C (57 °F): 18.2 °C (64.8 °F) during the day and 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) at night. In the coldest month—January—the average temperature is about 9 °C (48 °F) during the day, the average sea temperature is about 9 °C (48 °F). In the warmest months—July and August—the temperature typically ranges from 25 to 29 °C (77 to 84 °F) during the day, about 20 °C (68 °F) at night and the average sea temperature is about 23–24 °C (73–75 °F). Yearly sunshine hours are about 2,200. Generally, the summer season lasts 6 months (from May to October). December, January, February and March are the coldest months, with average temperature (of these four months) 10.6 °C (51.1 °F) during the day and 4.1 °C (39.4 °F) at night. Average annual precipitation is about 1,500 mm. Sochi lies at 8b/9a hardiness zone, so the city supports different types of palm trees. Sochi is situated on the same latitude as Nice but strong cold winds from Asia makes winter less warm. In fact, temperatures drop below freezing every winter for one or two days.

Sochi is almost unique among larger Russian cities as having some aspects of a subtropical resort. Apart from the scenic Caucasus Mountains, pebble and sand beaches, the city attracts vacation-goers with its subtropical vegetation, numerous parks, monuments, and extravagant Stalinist architecture. About two million people visit Greater Sochi each summer, when the city is home to the annual film festival "Kinotavr" and a getaway for Russia's elite.
Sochi also has Europe's most northerly tea plantations.

[smokin]

Sochi climate data:
Sochi has a humid subtropical climate (Koppen climate classification Cfa)—, at the lower elevations. Its average annual temperature is 14 °C (57 °F): 18.2 °C (64.8 °F) during the day and 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) at night. In the coldest month—January—the average temperature is about 9 °C (48 °F) during the day, the average sea temperature is about 9 °C (48 °F). In the warmest months—July and August—the temperature typically ranges from 25 to 29 °C (77 to 84 °F) during the day, about 20 °C (68 °F) at night and the average sea temperature is about 23–24 °C (73–75 °F). Yearly sunshine hours are about 2,200. Generally, the summer season lasts 6 months (from May to October). December, January, February and March are the coldest months, with average temperature (of these four months) 10.6 °C (51.1 °F) during the day and 4.1 °C (39.4 °F) at night. Average annual precipitation is about 1,500 mm. Sochi lies at 8b/9a hardiness zone, so the city supports different types of palm trees. Sochi is situated on the same latitude as Nice but strong cold winds from Asia makes winter less warm. In fact, temperatures drop below freezing every winter for one or two days.

Sochi is almost unique among larger Russian cities as having some aspects of a subtropical resort. Apart from the scenic Caucasus Mountains, pebble and sand beaches, the city attracts vacation-goers with its subtropical vegetation, numerous parks, monuments, and extravagant Stalinist architecture. About two million people visit Greater Sochi each summer, when the city is home to the annual film festival "Kinotavr" and a getaway for Russia's elite.
Sochi also has Europe's most northerly tea plantations.

Sounds like just the place for the next Winter Olympics...