Force India to try out drivers

Force India will give British driver Paul di Resta — cousin of Indycar champion Dario Franchitti — and American talent JR Hildebrand a chance to test for a full-time role with the Formula One team. Force India team owner Vijay Mallya said on Tuesday the two drivers were being considered for a test and reserve driver role with the team next season. The three-day session will run in Jerez, Spain, from December 1-3.

Briatore sticks to stance

Former Renault boss Flavio Briatore asked a French court to overturn his lifetime suspension from Formula One and force the FIA to pay him euro 1 million in damages. Briatore didn’t attend the hearing, but his lawyer Philippe Ouakrat said the Italian denied having a role in the scandal at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix. Former Renault chief engineer Pat Symonds also asked the court to overturn his five-year suspension from the sport.

Portsmouth fire manager

Paul Hart became the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season when he was fired by Portsmouth on Tuesday. The 56-year-old Hart paid the price for the south coast club having been in last place since the start of the season. He was fired after Sunday's 1-0 loss at Stoke. That left the club with only seven points from 13 games and Portsmouth issued a statement on Tuesday saying Hart had been relieved of his duties.

Referee considered quitting

The Swedish referee who failed to spot Thierry Henry’s hand ball in the World Cup playoff between France and Ireland says the incident made him consider quitting. Martin Hansson told regional Swedish newspaper Sydostran on Tuesday that the criticism that followed made him wonder whether the job was worth it and “maybe this is not my thing.”

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