[Dave L]

A tire only has so much grip either side to side or front to back. With FWD accelerating out of a corner you are trying to maintain grip side to side and produce acceleration. with RWD the front tires only need to provide the side to side grip while the rear tires provide the accelleration.

In the winter FWD is safer for the average driver because the natural instict is to lift off the throtle when in a skid. When you lift on FWD the tires car regain traction with RWD you will swap ends if you lift. I drive the e30 bmw, which will punish you if you lift in a turn, even in the worst conditions because of the better control of RWD.