Women drivers . . .
On the eve of International Women’s Day, Spanish racing driver missed the brief when she suggested women could be better suited to Formula E than Formula One because the all-electric cars were less physically challenging. “It’s a less physical car than in Formula One because of the downforce and because of the power steering as well,” ESPN quoted her as saying. “The challenge that we women have in Formula Two and Formula One is a physical issue and I think in Formula E, we won’t have it.” Jorda has never driven an F1 car. The response? “My eyes rolled so far back in my head, I nearly passed out,” said Britain’s Pippa Mann, a regular Indianapolis 500 competitor. Former F1 driver Jenson Button added: “Oh Carmen, you’re not helping proper female racing drivers with this comment. Ask @DanicaPatrick about being [strong] enough to drive a race car! She’d kick my butt in the gym & she’s probably as strong as any driver on the F1 Grid right now. Physical barrier is not your issue Carmen.” Domestic
Plunket Shield (10.30am), today-Monday, Auckland v Central Districts , Eden Park Outer Oval; Northern Districts v Canterbury, Cobham Oval. Today-Tuesday, Otago v Wellington, University of Otago Oval.
Auckland club, today/ tomorrow(11am), Hedley Howarth Trophy, two-day major championship, top four, round two, Papatoetoe v Howick Pakuranga, Papatoetoe Rec Ground; East Coast Bays v Auckland University, Windsor Park. Bottom four, round two, Cornwall v Takapuna, Cornwall Park; Grafton United v Parnell, Victoria Park. Tom Hellaby Trophy, two-day minor championship, round nine, Suburbs New Lynn v Eden Roskill, Eastdale Reserve; Ellerslie v North Shore, Michaels Ave; Waitakere v Birkenhead City, Te Atatu Park. Premier women, today (11am), Prichard Cup, limited overs championship, round nine, Waitakere v Howick Pakuranga, Te Atatu Park; Cornwall v Papatoetoe, Cornwall Park; Takapuna v Parnell, Hobsonville Domain.
ISPS Handa Premiership, today, Southern United v Hamilton Wanderers, Sunnyvale 2pm. Tomorrow, Wellington Phoenix Reserves v Tasman United, David Farrington Park 2pm; Canterbury United Dragons v Team Wellington, English Park 2pm; Waitakere United v Hawkes Bay United, The Trusts Arena 2pm; Auckland City v Eastern Suburbs, Kiwitea St 4.35pm.