Motorsport’s GP2 Asia Series will merge with the main GP2 Series next year.

The Asia Series launched in 2008 using cars that had been replaced in the main GP2 Series, and in its first year took place over 10 rounds at five different venues in the Middle East and South East Asia.

However, this year it comprised of just four rounds – two of which were held in Europe at Imola due to civil unrest in Bahrain – and with the same third-generation cars used in the main Series.

From 2012 the two Series will combine to create an international championship.

GP2 CEO Bruno Michel said: “In 2011, almost 85% of the drivers who did the Asia Series this season are taking part of the European Series as we are using the GP2/11 car in both categories. This year also marked the fact that for the first time the same thirteen teams entered both Series. We talked to them and we decided that it was logical to have one single Series from 2012.

“The merger will definitely help drivers gain even more experience on Formula One circuits throughout the world and will make the Series even more attractive and competitive. We will announce the 2012 calendar and the number of rounds at a later date.”

GP2 has also announced that it will hold a separate race at this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that will not contribute to either championship. Labelled the 2011 GP2 Final, the race will support the Formula One race and will see all thirteen GP2 teams fight for a prize fund.

“We had planned to go back to Abu Dhabi in November since the beginning of this year,” Michel added. “Yas Marina is a great track. So we decided that we would have one single race event called the 2011 GP2 Final there. It will be a fantastic opportunity for drivers who wish to do GP2 Series next year to try and have their first taste of the category in race conditions. It will also be a fantastic occasion for our teams to try new drivers and start working with them.”

The Indian Grand Prix at the JPSI promoted Buddh International Circuit could be handed a welcome timeline extension to be ready for its Formula One launch this year with reports suggesting that as discussions continue between Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA and Bahrain officials about the Sakhir race returning to the schedule, the dates for the India Grand Prix could be pushed back.  

India’s inaugural F1 encounter is currently scheduled for October 30, to be followed by the Abu Dhabi GP on November 13 and the season finale being the Brazil GP on November 27. However, in order to accommodate the Bahrain GP if it were to return to the calendar after cancelling its slated season opener earlier in the year, it is believed that the India GP would be pushed back to December 4, making it the last race of the 2011 F1 season.

The proposal is likely to get ready acceptance from the JPSI, keeping in mind the fact that work schedules at the Buddh International Circuit have been thrown out of gear due to the ongoing agitation by farmers in the Greater Noida area under which the track falls.

Farmers claim that the Utter Pradesh state government forced them to sell their land for the Yamuna Expressway – a six-lane highway being constructed between Noida and Agra. However, they say that much of the land surrounding the highway is being sold at astronomical rates to real estate developers who are planning malls and industrial as well as residential projects there. Farmers claim that while the government and the developers will make a significant profit, they have been shortchanged.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India Wednesday released the schedule for IPL Season 4, which will see last year’s winner Chennai Super Kings taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in the first match at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on 8 April.

IPL season 4 will have ten teams playing a total of 74 matches at 13 venues over 51 days, which will run till 22 May, when the grand finale will be held.

As reigning champions, Chennai Super Kings have the right to host the Opening match of the season, and to provide the venue for the Final.

In other news, the newly-formed IPL franchise known as Team Kochi have unveiled their new identity as the Indi Commandos, revealing their new team logo in the process.

That was the title the franchise first uploaded on its official Facebook page. The name the franchise had initially posted had neither state nor city moorings.

A second posting was the released which read: “The full name of the Kochi IPL page is “INDI COMMANDOS KERALA!” The earlier mentioned name was just for your immediate information! “

The franchise explained the thought behind the naming, stating: “‘INDI’ stands for an independent Indian cricket team that will go ahead to win a billion hearts. ‘COMMANDOS’ stands for an elite fighting squad, renown for attacking with speed, stealth and deadly power.”

The Business India Forum, partnered by iSportConnect, has confirmed its speakers for the conference which is to be held on 22 July at Christie’s in London.

A host of world-renowned industry professional will speak at the event, including Ishant Saxena, Chairman of QPR Football Club, as well as Tushar Das Ghose, Strategic Partner Consultant at Microsoft. Arunava Chaudhuri, CEO of IndianFootball.com will also be speaking.

The Business India Forum, which brings together people from key areas with a focus on the fast rising sectors of sports, lifestyle and luxury, is taking advantage of the growing economy in India, which is set to become one of the four biggest in the world.

Other speakers at the event include: Amin Jaffer (Director, Indian Art, Christie’s), Subodh Agrawal (Founder, Euro Max Capital), Fiona Sanderson (Managing Director, The Luxury Channel), Patricia Hewitt (CEO, UK India Business Council), Ashis Ray (journalist and author), Farid Haque (Global Markets, Accenture), Som Mandal (Partner Fox, Mandal Little) and Sangeeta Datta (film producer).

The half-day conference will be followed by a cocktail networking reception.

Tickets.com, provider of state-of-the-art technology solutions has announced a ticketing services partnership with Arlington International Racecourse.

The Arlington Heights racing and entertainment complex will introduce the ProVenue platform to their fans in support of sales for the 2014 race season.

Arlington International Racecourse selected the Tickets.com platform after an extensive evaluation of ProVenue at two area Major League Baseball facilities: Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Milwaukee’s Miller Park.

Tony Petrillo, Arlington International General Manager noted, “From the automated kiosks, to the digital ticket delivery methods, and to the online purchase experience, we see the ProVenue installation as a major technology upgrade for our facility and will provide a most user friendly on-line experince. ProVenue will let us broaden the types of bundling and promotions we offer and give us more actionable data to help us more effectively plan for the future.”

Tickets.com’s Dan Archabal, Vice President of Business Development, added: “We see traditional racing & gaming facilities like Arlington International and Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots (Tickets.com’s other Churchill Downs Incorporated managed facility) continuing to broaden the types of live entertainment they offer fans,” said Archabal. “ProVenue gives our clients a flexible platform as their business expands beyond racing with immediate benefits occurring in a reduction to labor expense with more self-service options and a streamlined sales process all focusing on elevated customer service.”

The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) has announced the Men’s World Championships will return to Manchester, England for 2018.

The games, which were held in Manchester in 2010 and will be played in Denver in 2014, will use the same facilities as in 2010 at the University of Manchester. England was previously named the host nation for the 2017 Women’s World Cup.

The 2010 games saw Team USA defeat Canada, 12-10, for the gold medal. That game was played in front of nearly 5,000 fans.

“The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) is proud to announce that the English Lacrosse Association has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championship. We are extremely confident that English Lacrosse, having successfully hosted the 2010 Championship, will again run an event that FIL and the International lacrosse community will be proud of,” FIL president Stan Cockerton said in a news release.

Cockerton said there were multiple bids for the games but did not disclose which countries were in the running. England has resources to accommodate up to 48 countries — 29 participated in 2010 — and is “more than willing to be inclusive with our growth.”

“We are absolutely delighted that with the decision of the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) to give England Lacrosse hosting rights for the 2018 Men’s Field World Championship and the opportunity to serve the international community.  We hosted the 2010 Championship and will be using the same facilities at the Armitage Centre and accommodation at Manchester University which is within walking distance of fields where the games will be played,” David Marsden, co-president of England Lacrosse, said in a news release. “Following on from the success of the 2010 Championship we are certain that this will give a fantastic boost not only to English Lacrosse but more importantly to the international game.”

The games have been held every four years since 1974, with USA winning all but two gold medals. Canada won gold in 1978 and 2006. England has hosted the games three times (’78, ’94, 2010)

4Sight Sport, the partner company of Green 4 Solutions, has been appointed as the official Customer Relationship Management (CRM) & Data Agency partner for the Rugby League World Cup 2013, which will take place in October.

4Sight, which was founded two years ago to deliver CRM strategy development, analytics and data marketing to the sport & leisure industry, will review the current sources of customer data and provide in-depth customer insight and fan engagement services.

RLWC2013 Marketing Manager, Mark Foster said: “Rugby League World Cup 2013 is a major event in the sporting calendar and so far ticket sales have been very encouraging. We are looking forward to continue that, using 4Sight’s services to develop our data and fan engagement strategy and build on the excitement that a major tournament brings to the country.”

Garry Adamson, Managing Director at 4Sight Sport & Leisure, added: “Data driven sales and marketing strategies are now seen as a crucial method for sports rights holders to achieve their commercial aims.  We are delighted to assist a prestigious world tournament with their forward thinking plans in this area.”