Formula One: Technical director Mike Gascoyne will leave the Jordan team when his contract expires in July 2001. Benetton, who will be replaced by Renault in 2002, said they had signed a five-year deal with him to begin in 2001. Benetton technical director Pat Symonds said: "I have known and respected Mike for many years and am delighted that he will be joining us to strengthen our technical department. This signing is part of our long-term strategy to create a world championship-winning team."

Benetton are currently third in the world championship constructors' standings. Eddie Jordan, in a statement, said: "Due to our success in recent years it is inevitable that our key team members would be approached by other teams, particularly as major motor manufacturers become involved."

Jordan said that Gascoyne (37), had informed him of his plans and pledged to honour his contract until July 2001. "Mike has done and will continue to do a great job for us," added the team boss."

Gascoyne joined Jordan in July 1998 as chief designer after previous stints with McLaren, Sauber and Tyrrell.

He became Jordan technical director in January, replacing Gary Anderson who is now with Jaguar, and designed last season's successful Jordan 199 car. He said he appreciated the opportunity Jordan had given him.

Tennis: The Ireland Davis Cup team can rarely, if ever, have had more reason to feel confident about their chances ahead of this weekend's tie with Luxembourg on clay court at the Mondorf Les Bains venue.

The Euro-African tie gets under way this morning with the opening singles. It will be an entirely new experience for Peter Clarke, the 19-year-old Dublin-born player who has spent most of his young life in Australia. Although the youngest member of the team, Clarke has invaluable experience on the clay surface. The match also provides an excellent opportunity to blood debutant Sean Cooper.

With Scott Barron having reported a clean bill of health and Owen Casey's experience at this level, bound to come into play, perhaps in doubles, Ireland are strongly fancied to get through to a July meeting at home against either Latvia or Croatia.

Tennis: The Wimbledon men's champion will receive £47,500 more than the women's champion at this year's event, it was announced yesterday.

The record prize money will see the men's winner taking £477,500 compared to £455,000 last year, while the women's winner will take £430,000 in prize money compared to £409,500 in 1999.

The total prize money will top £8 million, an increase of 6.1 per cent.