OCTOBER 19, 2006

BAT exits F1 this weekend

British American Tobacco exits Formula One at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend after eight years of Lucky Strike sponsorship, bringing to an end links to motorsport dating back to the 1960s. The company is honouring a commitment to leave F1 by the end of this year - a move consistent with the International Marketing Standards which it voluntarily subscribed to in 2001 along with its two major international tobacco company competitors.

British American Tobacco founded British American Racing in 1997 and sold the team to Honda last year.