Tournaments are battling ATP World Tour Exec Chair & President Adam Helfant "over his proposed next contract," and his future with the sport is "possibly at risk," according to sources cited by Daniel Kaplan of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The sources said that Helfant signed a "three-year, incentive-laden deal in 2009, and this year he will cash in with compensation topping" $3M. That is a "record amount for the ATP World Tour and WTA Tour." Before Helfant, the ATP's top exec "historically made less than $1 million." The tournaments "would like a more conservatively structured contract," but sources said that Helfant is "balking at that idea" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/4 issue).

The European Commission "has asked Formula One’s governing body to set up a racing championship series for electric cars, as a way of increasing public awareness and excitement about new-technology vehicles," according to Blitz & Allen of the FINANCIAL TIMES. FIA President Jean Todt said that the governing body is "working with commissioners to create new electric car, go-kart and single-seater racing categories, raising the prospect of an F1-style electric car championship on Grand Prix circuits." Todt added that a "first season for electric car racing could come as early as 2013 and would be as global as the FIA could make it." EU Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani said that he "hoped the event would use F1's vast media muscle to stir consumers' interest in electric vehicles" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 4/4). MARKETING magazine's Alex Brownsell notes it is "hoped that the high-profile nature of F1 will help generate awareness of the growth of electric and hybrid motoring, with brands such as BMW, Renault and Vauxhall each plotting launches" (MARKETINGMAGAZINE.co.uk, 4/4).