APRIL 16, 2003

House of Orange

The Orange mobile telephone company has pulled out of F1, but the Dutch branch of the company is expected to be seen in sportscar racing.

The Orange mobile telephone company has pulled out of F1 - except as a trackside advertiser - but the Dutch branch of the company is expected to be seen in sportscar racing supporting the Le Mans 24 Hours program of the organization known as the Spyker Squadron.

The deal is believed to be for the next three years.

Spyker, which uses the sport to promote its production sports car business, is based in Holland and is now building three different models of car. Orange is keen to use the association with the all-Dutch operation to boost its business in Holland, where orange is the national color - and the name of the royal house.