175 replies to this topic

[JimmyClark]

Igora Drive officially replacing Sochi from 2023!

I for one am not going to miss Sochi.

[Anja]

Nice of them to announce it two years in advance so we can truly savour the two remaining Sochi races now that we know it will be gone. 

[absinthedude]

I won't miss Sochi. Not that Igora Drive looks much better, but I'll give it a chance.  Reminds me a little of Aida....lots of slow and medium speed corners squeezed into a 2.5 mile circuit. But the Hungaroring often throws up interesting and exciting races so maybe this will work. 

[PayasYouRace]

News for Igora Driver https://www.autospor...m-2023/6609933/

 

I approve. I think we're seeing influence from Liberty here, trying to move F1 to more exciting circuits, or making existing circuits more exciting.

[DinocoBlue]

Ah Sochi... we'll hardly miss ye..

 

 

 

ah who am I kidding.... we won't miss it at all!

[PayasYouRace]

The layout for anyone that missed it.

 

[DinocoBlue]

Done a quick YT search, and it doesn't look too bad.

 

Anyone know, is it prounounced Ig-orra or Eye-gor-a?

[Disgrace]

Great news. Sochi is home to the worst corner on the entire calendar. I need not even tell you which one. It shan't be missed.

[uzsjgb]

Sad to see Sochi go and be replaced with another boring cookie-cutter Tilke circuit built somewhere in a field. Sochi turn 4 is one of the most spectacular corners of the year and was always good for highly dynamic camera shots.

 

I cannot see the Igora circuit having anything which could upset the normal order, nor do I see anything, which could lead to good racing.

 

We have 23 races, I think we should add some variety. First of all for the viewers, who will get bored with x races at non-descript interchangeable circuits. Secondly for the teams and drivers, who should be challenged by non-conventional tracks and layouts.

[Risil]

Track would be better if they skipped turns 1-3. That's my hot take.

Anyone familiar with the track or is it a new one?

[PayasYouRace]

It’s a new track. COVID has limited its international use. DTM (or should that be GTM nowadays?) was the first series to sign up to race there.

[MrAerodynamicist]

It at least seems to work for caterhams...

 

[cjm321190]

Should go to St Petersburg Florida.

[Laster]

Sochi was one of the worst circuits on the calender, perhaps even the worst, at least Monaco looks spectacular when viewed onboard an F1 car even if it can’t produce an actual race anymore. I’m still stuck remembering one race at Sochi where F1’s highlight reel involved 7 onboards of the opening lap, one lock up, and a driver being lapped. It is a woeful track, absolutely anything with tarmac would produce a more entertaining Grand Prix.

[Goron3]

A fast and flowing circuit? Existing circuits being improved? Spa getting it's gravel traps back next year.

Super excited.

[MrAerodynamicist]

It does have least one corner that I can see being a track limits issue (3:43 in the video above).

[NixxxoN]

Don't know how it will be but I bet better than dull Sochi

[OO7]

The main straight is pretty much the same length as that at the Hungaroring.

[Marklar]

https://twitter.com/...696537732071424

Edited by Marklar, 26 June 2021 - 11:07.

[BRG]

It does have least one corner that I can see being a track limits issue (3:43 in the video above).

F1 drivers will manage to run wide in nearly every corner.  But don't worry - apparently it doesn't help them go faster, no,no, not at all (copyright of the late Charles Whiting)

[jonpollak]

Done a quick YT search, and it doesn't look too bad.

 

Anyone know, is it prounounced Ig-orra or Eye-gor-a?

it's igor-a

But if you're from Texas it's Eye-Gorra

 

https://drive-igora.ru/

 

Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 26 June 2021 - 11:21.

[RobNNN]

Another track full of constant radius corners connected by short straights. New tracks never seem to have their own character any more. It'll probably be better than Sochi though.

[DinocoBlue]

it's igor-a

But if you're from Texas it's Eye-Gorra

 

https://drive-igora.ru/

 

Jp

Thanks

[Calum]

I'm 100% behind moving the Russian GP to a permanent race track instead of Sochi.

With their alleged fee and super long contract length, it's a certainty on the calendar, so we might as well make the most of it.

 

 

Onboard: June 2020

I do like grass on the side of a race track and look forward to it being properly matured/grown by 2023! 

 

youtube.com/watch?v=68YlnNHuthE&ab_channel=DenisMalevanyi

[Frank Tuesday]

it's igor-a
But if you're from Texas it's Eye-Gorra

https://drive-igora.ru/

Jp

We'd probably leave off the 'a' at the end. Probably pronounce it more like eye-gur

[Atreiu]

The layout for anyone that missed it.

Looks like a bike track. DRS will have to be open everywhere.

[Fastcake]

It can’t possibly be worse than Sochi. I’m not even scared about tempting fate, as I cannot conceive of a circuit more featureless, soulless or bereft of any racing merit as Sochi. Not a single thing of note has ever happened on track in Russia.

Good god roll on 2023.

[eibyyz]

https://youtu.be/_IswJOeWYBM

[messy]

Sochi is an absolutely horrible, depressing concrete jungle that I’m delighted to see gone.

[noikeee]

The track looks way better when you watch footage from it, than by looking at the track map. I like it and approve this.

[ArrowsLivery]

I think the Sochi venue had potential but the layout Tilke came up with was terrible. 

[uzsjgb]

It can’t possibly be worse than Sochi. I’m not even scared about tempting fate, as I cannot conceive of a circuit more featureless, soulless or bereft of any racing merit as Sochi. Not a single thing of note has ever happened on track in Russia.

 

I think some of the most daring and spectacular overtakes of the last years have happened at Sochi. Around the outside of turn 4. Due to the low camera angle from behind one could really see how the cars were on the limit. Very unique, a shame we are losing it.

 

Instead we are getting a featureless circuit like countless others. And on top of that it is very short, which means overtaking will be difficult, if we are lucky DRS-aided passes will be possible down the main straight.

[PayasYouRace]

Do you really think Igora Drive is more featureless than Sochi, the most bland circuit in F1?

[cpbell]

Another track full of constant radius corners connected by short straights. New tracks never seem to have their own character any more. It'll probably be better than Sochi though.

Most permanent circuits built from the '70s to the early 2000s were like that.  Better than the horrid short radius angles that predominate in F1 circuits these days, not the least of which are Sochi and Abu Dhabi.

[cpbell]

The track looks way better when you watch footage from it, than by looking at the track map. I like it and approve this.

That was my thought as well.

Edited by cpbell, 26 June 2021 - 16:31.

[cpbell]

I think some of the most daring and spectacular overtakes of the last years have happened at Sochi. Around the outside of turn 4. Due to the low camera angle from behind one could really see how the cars were on the limit. Very unique, a shame we are losing it.

 

Instead we are getting a featureless circuit like countless others. And on top of that it is very short, which means overtaking will be difficult, if we are lucky DRS-aided passes will be possible down the main straight.

Yes, Mr. Putin.  Glorious Russia could never have a dull circuit!

Edited by cpbell, 26 June 2021 - 16:32.

[Anuity]

Won’t miss it, but it was not the worst circuit.
Nothing can beat Abu Dhabi.
And quite honestly, Spain, France and unfortunately even Mexico are not that much better in terms of entertainment.

[absinthedude]

Another track full of constant radius corners connected by short straights. New tracks never seem to have their own character any more. It'll probably be better than Sochi though.

 

Looking at the video above, it's certainly not got a lot of character....but the trees and countryside in the background do provide an attractive backdrop to the circuit, and it ought to be at least marginally better than Sochi. I'd rather be going to Brands Hatch if we have to go somewhere short....or Sakhir outer circuit.....or Dijon....but if we must have a race in Russia this will be an improvement. And as I mentioned earlier, sometimes a track proves better than it's map suggests. The Hungaroring has produced more than it's fair share of exciting grands prix despite us old farts all crying in anguish when it replaced Zandvoort on the calendar. And now we get both! Albeit a much shortened Zandvoort. I'll give this a chance for the length of the contract. It might just throw up a surprise or two. It's certainly a modern facility, part of a complex that was built recently (just pre pandemic I think??) and includes kart tracks and entertainment facilities. 

[ANF]

It at least seems to work for caterhams...
 

Looks like track limits might become a problem in the tarmac run-off areas at T1, T2, T3, T4, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T12, T13, T14, T15.



Mmm, sausage kerbs...

[Goron3]

A fast and flowing circuit with no mickey-mouse sections and elevation change? Love it.

[loki]

it's igor-a

But if you're from Texas it's Eye-Gorra

 

https://drive-igora.ru/

 

Jp

[jonpollak]

Do you really think Igora Drive is more featureless than Sochi, the most bland circuit in F1?

As a destination it is.
Sochi has a lot to offer in terms of fun in the sun.
Just not a good F1 track.
Jp

[Risil]

As a destination it is.
Sochi has a lot to offer in terms of fun in the sun.
Just not a good F1 track.
Jp

St Petersburg has a lot to offer too! Or is it one of those venues like Istanbul that are pretty hard to get to from the host city?

Edit: An hour's drive up the Karelian peninsula. But don't call it the Finnish Grand Prix.

[BRG]

St Petersburg has a lot to offer too! Or is it one of those venues like Istanbul that are pretty hard to get to from the host city?

Edit: An hour's drive up the Karelian peninsula. But don't call it the Finnish Grand Prix.

Oh god, does that mean the place will be crammed with Kimi and Valtteri fans over for the day?  Unless neither driver is still in F1 by then...

[Leif Snellman]

It seems to actually be on the Finnish side of the pre WW2 border.

Edited by Leif Snellman, 26 June 2021 - 20:42.

[Alan Lewis]

Don't mention the war!

[cpbell]

Don't mention the war!

He did once, but I think he got away with it.

[milestone 11]

He did once, but I think he got away with it.

Brilliant!
 

Edited by milestone 11, 26 June 2021 - 21:42.

[YamahaV10]

Igora Drive officially replacing Sochi from 2023!

I for one am not going to miss Sochi.

I thought the same. But people are saying that this new track looks worse.

Why why why why they don't copy the tracks that work ,I will never know. Instead they spend all this money to make a track that everyone hates

[YamahaV10]

It at least seems to work for caterhams...

https://www.youtube....h?v=-FQN5NHvgro

Hmmm that looks alright. The track looks wide. Some elevation changes. Some bank.I hope the nay sayers are proven wrong

Edited by YamahaV10, 27 June 2021 - 04:50.