WI Russian Grands Prix?

[Riain]

I was surprised to learn that Russia hosted Grands Prix in 1913 and 1914 and there was talk of another in 1983 which fell over and Hungary hosted the first F1 race behind the Iron Curtin in 1986.

Doers anyone know of other opportunities for GP/F1 racing in Russia/Soviet Union?

What would be the consequences of Russia/Soviet Union hosting GP/F1 sometime between the end of WW1 and the end of the Cold War?

 

[AgentRudda]

A Russian Grand Prix is scheduled for later this year at Sochi, in the Olympic Park.

The likeliest reason against a Russian GP is the difficulty in choosing an appropriate venue. F1, especially modern F1, doesn't like going to cold and/or inaccessible places. Also, during the Soviet era, a Soviet GP would have been a huge advert for Western powers, with Western car manufacturers, sponsors, media, big business, etc. It'd be propaganda for the West just as much as it would have been for the USSR.

 

[FickleCrossroad]

A Russian Grand Prix is scheduled for later this year at Sochi, in the Olympic Park.

The likeliest reason against a Russian GP is the difficulty in choosing an appropriate venue. F1, especially modern F1, doesn't like going to cold and/or inaccessible places. Also, during the Soviet era, a Soviet GP would have been a huge advert for Western powers, with Western car manufacturers, sponsors, media, big business, etc. It'd be propaganda for the West just as much as it would have been for the USSR.

This.

Also, what happens when a grid full of Western cars shows up and there are zero Soviet drivers, teams, or engines? Huge propaganda hit unless the Soviets also show up with a team capable of the front of the pack. It'd be a net loss without the full package.

 

[mtoddm]

What if there was some sort of terrorist attach at the Russian Gran Prix? They had trouble before the Olympics but maybe the same group is going to wait until the race to strike again.

 

[TheMann]

This.

Also, what happens when a grid full of Western cars shows up and there are zero Soviet drivers, teams, or engines? Huge propaganda hit unless the Soviets also show up with a team capable of the front of the pack. It'd be a net loss without the full package.

This is all true, but perhaps given a little advance notice the Russians could come up with a team capable of running at the front in Formula One. They would have a monster of a budget to attempt it no doubt, and Russians can be very good engineers if the situation requires it.

 

[Riain]

Russia doesn't need an F1 team, Australia has had a stack of F1/GPs without it's own team. What Russia needs is some entertaining supporting classes for the home market.