Sponsors were the main reason why Lotus Renault GP chose its second 2012 driver, Romain Grosjean according to team ambassador Jean Alesi.

With backing from French petroleum company Total, Romain Grosjean was selected to partner returning 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, leaving Bruno Senna and Vitaly Petrov on the sidelines and searching for a drive.

Former Grand Prix winner Alesi is an ambassador for the Enstone team, having retired from F1 in 2001 before spending a stint in German touring car series DTM.

“Grosjean is a beginner and he’s had a chance a few years ago, but France needs a French driver and I know he will have the support of Total, so why not?” French-Sicilian Alesi is quoted as saying by The Norwich Advertiser.

“For Bruno, what he did this year was great, especially as he started in the middle of the season. He had to jump in the car straight away and he has been quick. The performance of the car was sometimes good, sometimes not, but he managed to do his job in the best way. So it’s a shame – but Total did push very much for a French driver and they pay more…”

Also on the hunt for a 2012 race seat is Vitaly Petrov, who has been dropped by Eric Boullier’s squad after spending two seasons with the outfit and scoring a maiden podium result at the start of 2011.

New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan announced he is leaving the job in November, partly because of the travel demands and time away from his family.

“I love the job, I wake up every morning and love what I’m doing,” he says.

“[However,] I do have priorities in my life and family is number one.”

The 44-year-old father of three says the demands of his high profile job meant something had to give, so he finishes his role in November.

He broke the news to the Blackcaps during the lunch break at their training camp. Even captain Ross Taylor says he didn’t see it coming.

“Justin leaving surprised me as it did the rest of the boys,” he says.

It’s been a turbulent year all round for Vaughan. Earthquakes in Christchurch damaged his own hillside house and forced New Zealand Cricket to relocate their offices out of the central city.

One of his best achievements, he says, was implementing the “risk and reward” model he struck the New Zealand Players’ Association where players get more money in good times and vice versa.

Heath Mills, Players’ Association head, said: “At times there have been tough discussions but that’s always part of it , but 95 percent of the time we have been working together rather than challenging each other,”

Under Vaughan’s watch there’s been a lot of change, especially in the team’s coaching and management

Privately he’s had plenty of critics and while Vaughan is satisfied he’s done a good job, the Blackcaps world ranking at 8th in tests and 7th in one dayers is a major disappointment.

National Basketball Association (NBA) owners and players made “little or no progress” during five hours of talks aimed at ending the lockout, ed union Executive Director Billy Huntersaid, ailment ending any optimism that emerged from last week’s meetings.

National Basketball Players Association President (NBPA) Derek Fisher, buy Point Guard of the Los Angeles Lakers said the continued deadlock makes it less likely that the regular season, set to begin on Nov. 1, will start on time. No talks are scheduled.

Fisher told reporters: “We’re not marching toward getting a deal done at this time because of the calendar, we can’t come out of here feeling training camp and the season will start on time.”

The groups exchanged economic proposals during meetings last week, NBA Commissioner David Stern told reporters today, saying that the sides are “on the road” to reaching agreement on the economics of a new deal.

The owners are looking for a new salary-cap system, how much each team can pay its players and to improve competitive balance in the league. The union’s concessions are tied to keeping the system unchanged to continue the contract security that players currently enjoy.

Adam Silver, NBA Deputy Commissioner, said “It shouldn’t be the case that they’re coming in to tell us if they’re willing to make economic concessions, we should be willing to accept the existing system, which from our perspective doesn’t work.”

George Cohen, head of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, who last year brokered an eleventh-hour deal between Major League Soccer and its players, said last week that “very strong differences remain” between the two sides.

Federal judge David Doty in Minneapolis earlier this week ruled that the NFL improperly negotiated television contracts to receive $4 billion in revenue if a work stoppage leads to games being cancelled next season.

A report from Forbes states that the NFL owners want players to finance a $16bn increase in aggregate value for the league’s 32 teams in a new collective bargaining agreement, or an average of $510 million per team, 50% more than the average NFL franchise is currently worth.

The owners want to reduce the amount of league revenue that can go towards player salaries from $8bn to $7bn.

The Australian V8 Ute Racing Series board has added Andrew “Fishtail” Fisher as Director, see representing the Ford’s shareholder’s interests following the resignation of long term Director Ben Dunn.

Andrew Eglinton was also re-elected for a further term to represent the Holden Shareholders alongside Kim Jane.

Fisher will bring with him a wealth of experience, not just as a driver but also with vast background in business management and consulting. Andrew has also been a shareholder and racer in the Series since 2007 in the Jesus Racing Ford, and is looking forward to contributing to the Series at Board level.

“I’m looking forward to being a part of the Board, obviously I’ve been a part of the Ute Series for a long time and it’s great to be a part of the planning process, especially with the evolUTEion 2016 ute coming and all of the excitement and anticipation towards that. It will be great to be on the board working with the other guys looking at where we can take what’s already a great series to an even greater height,” explained Fisher.

Eglinton will represent the Holden camp alongside Kim Jane. He was first elected into the role in late 2005 and stepped down for re-election last month, so Holden shareholders would have the opportunity for change if desired. The Senior Account Executive of Engineering and Technical Recruitment Company Adecco, is ready to assume the role once again.

“I’m looking forward to continuing in the role as Holden Shareholder Director and providing ongoing support for the category. It’s an exciting time in the Series moving into the evolUTEion platform and it will be fantastic to be continually involved in the progression,” said Eglinton.

Independent Chairman of the Board Peter Henry welcomes both Eglinton and Fisher on-board.

“Congratulations to Andrew on his reappointment to the Board but also it’s fantastic to have Andrew Fisher on board. His depth and business experience will add great value and we’re looking forward to the exciting couple of years that we have coming up as the evolUTEion continues,” says Henry.

The Board also renewed the contract of Event Management / Marketing Company SPHERIX, on a multi-year contract, to continue running the Australian V8 Ute Racing Series and partner Bill West is looking forward to the opportunity.

“We’ve be involved for a long time now and to see the Series move into its next phase is really exciting. My business partner Craig Denyer and I have had 8 great years with the Ute family and we are looking forward to taking the series to a new and exciting level. We have seen Craig Dontas go through puberty, Jack Elsegood get engaged, David Sieders become a father, David White move into management level in V8 Supercars, Ryal Harris win back to back titles plus Chris Pither, Warren Luff, Marcus Zukanovic, James Moffat, George Miedecke and Jesse Dixon all go on to race V8 Supercars, so it’s been a great ride,” said West.

Sussex County Cricket Club have hired 4Sight Sport & Leisure as their official Customer Relationship Management (CRM) & Data Agency partner to support their customer engagement strategy.

4Sight will manage the various Sussex Cricket data flows into the central Data Warehouse and CRM system providing that all important single customer view. They will also provide a range of data analysis, allergist customer segmentation and insight led campaign management services focused on all relevant communication channels.

4Sight will work closely with Sussex CCC’s digital agency partner, health Pleece & Co, cheap to specifically focus to improve the overall digital experience for all fans and customers.

Zac Toumazi, Chief Executive of Sussex Cricket commented, “Improving our understanding of fans and customers is a crucial part of our strategy to deliver world class fan engagement strategies. This involves a combination of data management, targeted communications and a continued focus on an improved customer experience. We are excited to be moving forward in these areas using 4Sight’s unique combination of systems and services alongside Pleece & Co’s digital expertise.”

Garry Adamson, Managing Director at 4Sight Sport & Leisure, added, “Data driven fan engagement strategies are now seen as a crucial method for sports rights holders to achieve their commercial aims. Sussex CCC is leading the way in this area and has a fantastic reputation as a fan friendly venue. We are delighted to assist a top first-class county like Sussex with their forward thinking plans in this area.”

Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield has been announced as the host of the qualifying rounds of snooker’s biggest tournament, the World Championship, from April 8 to 16, 2014.

It will be the first time Ponds Forge will host the event which has hosted a number of national and international sporting events.

Ponds Forge stages a range of national and international sporting events every year and will host snooker for the first time with the World Championship qualifiers from April 8 to 16, 2014. 

All players seeded outside the top 16 will be battling for places in the final stages at the Crucible Theatre. 

Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Ken Doherty and rising stars like Jack Lisowksi and Michael White are likely to be among those striving for a coveted spot at the Crucible. The 16 qualifiers will then be drawn at random against the top 16 seeds. 

A spokesman for World Snooker said: “We’re thrilled to be staging the qualifying rounds of our biggest event at Ponds Forge for the first time. It’s a fantastic venue and it’s just a stone’s throw from the Crucible so the players and fans will have a keen sense of what is at stake. 

“Sheffield has proved an outstanding location for staging our qualifiers in recent years. It’s a very popular city among the players, as well as the hundreds of fans who come to see so many famous names in action. 

“Our calendar is so packed this season that we have moved the qualifiers closer to the main event, so a player could win his final round match on April 16th and be playing at the Crucible on the 19th! This will only add to the drama and intensity. 

“Tickets details will be announced in due course and hopefully fans will take the chance to see the qualifying rounds unfold.”  

Lorenzo Clark, director of operations for Sheffield International Venues (SIV), which operates Ponds Forge, said: “We are extremely proud to be playing host to the qualifying rounds of snooker’s biggest tournament. 

“Ponds Forge regularly stages high profile sporting events from the FINA World Diving Series to the ETTA National Table Tennis Championships but this will the first time a major snooker event is contested at the venue. 

“We are looking forward to welcoming the world’s top players to our world-class facility for nine days of exciting action ahead of the World Championship at the Crucible.”