Motor sport: McLaren's technical director Adrian Newey was yesterday at the centre of a bitter contract row, writes Justin Hynes, after he and McLaren insisted he would remain at the Mercedes powered team beyond 2002 in response to a statement issued by Jaguar which announced his move to the Milton Keynes-based team when his contract at McLaren expires in August of next year.

The row began yesterday morning when, after days of rumour, Jaguar announced Newey would join them next year. The statement went so far as to quote Newey as saying the decision to leave McLaren had been difficult, but that he was looking forward to working with Jaguar Racing CEO Bobby Rahal, a friend from their days racing in IndyCar in the mid-1980s.

However, within hours of the Jaguar statement, McLaren responded with a terse release, insisting Newey would remain with the team beyond the end of his contract.

That was followed by Jaguar claiming they had a contract with the designer which was in turn followed yesterday evening by a longer McLaren statement in which Ron Dennis and Newey insisted he would stay with the team.

Basketball: The road to the European Championships for the Irish senior men begins with a difficult opening qualifier against Switzerland in Geneva this evening, writes Ian O'Riordan. It is the first of three games over the next week for the Irish, who host Finland and Iceland next Wednesday and Saturday night respectively at the National Arena in Tallaght.

Injuries deny Ireland some key players, including Ken Lacey, John O'Connell, Gareth Maguire, Ken Kavanagh and Mike Mitchell. FIBA's decision to change their nationality rule has increased Ireland's options, and brothers Jon and Lay Larranga, point-guard Bill Donlon and Jim Moran should make their debuts.

Mountain Running: The Irish Mountain Running Association have their annual race up Carrauntoohil tomorrow, the first in a series of five where points can be scored for the Irish Championship. The main contender after 13 consecutive wins is John Lenihan.