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ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

VUSE* AND McLAREN RACING MARK WORLD FIRST AHEAD OF 2021 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

An emerging artist has had her work spotlighted for the world to see, featured

on one of the fastest-moving canvases on earth.

McLaren Racing has today unveiled a one-off livery ahead of the FORMULA 1

ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2021, working with long-standing partner

Vuse, the number one global vape brand** to give creative control of the livery

to an up-and-coming, female, UAE-based artist.

The design of McLaren Racing's 2021 livery for the Abu Dhabi race marks the

first time a piece of original art has appeared on a livery during a Grand

Prix[TM] and celebrates the first time a female artist from the Middle East has

been given this kind of opportunity. The artist, Rabab Tantawy, has used her

passion for union, community, and heritage to inspire and inform the artwork

for the livery, incorporating her Nubian Series*** with McLaren Racing's iconic

papaya and blue colourway.

Driven by her love of art, Rabab taught herself different artistry techniques,

ranging from traditional mediums like oil painting to modern approaches such as

spray-paints. Featuring Rabab's Nubian figures, the livery artwork represents

togetherness and 'the world as one' – two themes Rabab is passionate about

exploring in her work both on and off the canvas.

Working with the assistance of automotive media designer, Davide Virdis,

Rabab's work on the livery forms part of Vuse's recently announced Driven by

Change initiative, which sees grassroots creative talent given unparalleled

opportunities in motorsport to showcase their work.

Rabab Tantawy comments: "Never would I have imagined being given an opportunity

like this. Coming from a family of racing fans, seeing one of my original

artworks racing on track is one of the most incredible things to happen in my

career – and an even more amazing feat being the first female, Middle Eastern

artist to do so."

"Providing opportunities and platforms for unestablished artists in the Middle

East is something I'm passionate about. Being named the first creative in

Vuse's Driven by Change initiative hopefully marks the first of many examples

of up-and-coming creative talent in motorsport showcasing their work, passions

and values on the world stage. I look forward to being a part of these moments

for others."

The Driven by Change initiative will see Vuse use their partnership with

McLaren Racing to provide opportunities for other underrepresented creatives to

champion their work and passions across various platforms. These creators from

around the world will be offered opportunities like that of Rabab's in Abu

Dhabi from which they can help drive change within the world of motorsport.

John Beasley, Group Head of Brand Building, BAT, comments: "We want to really

focus on providing support and opportunities for talent as we further champion

the diversity of people and skills in the creative world. Rabab has been an

incredible talent to work with for the launch of the programme, with her

passion for diversity and togetherness, and artistic skill set to transform the

track in Abu Dhabi. We look forward to working with Rabab further as she helps

us continue to influence change in not only motorsport, but the creative

industry as a whole."

The initiative forms part of Vuse's ongoing ambition to celebrate undiscovered

creative talent, working with McLaren Racing to identify opportunities to bring

their work to life, helping introduce creatives from diverse backgrounds to the

masses. Rabab's artwork will be featured at the final race of the year, the

FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2021, taking place on Sunday 12

December, where Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo will race Rabab's artwork

around the famed final track of the season.

Vuse has previously worked with creatives in motorsport, including St.

Petersburg's artist, Ya La'ford, who painted an IndyCar for the Vuse Deign

Challenge at the Firestone Grand Prix[TM] earlier this year.

Vuse also engaged streetwear brand Undefeated, who designed the bespoke livery

for the No.7 Vuse Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet for the 2021 Indianapolis 500.

To discover more about Rabab's story, visit Vuse

[https://www.instagram.com/vuse.worldwide/?hl=en] and Rabab's

[https://www.instagram.com/rababtantawy/?hl=en]social channels. Further

information on the Driven by Change initiative and how creatives can get

involved will be shared in 2022.

Notes to Editors:

About BAT

BAT is a leading, multi-category consumer goods business with a purpose to

build A Better Tomorrow by reducing the health impact of its business through

offering a greater choice of enjoyable and less risky products for adult

consumers. The company continues to be clear that combustible cigarettes pose

serious health risks, and the only way to avoid these risks is not to start or

to quit. BAT encourages those who would otherwise continue to smoke to switch

completely to scientifically-substantiated, reduced-risk alternatives*. In

order to deliver this, BAT is transforming into a truly consumer-centric

multi-category consumer products business. BAT employs over 53,000 people and

operates in over 180 countries, with 11 million points of sale and 45 factories

in 43 markets. The company's Strategic Portfolio is made up of its global

cigarette brands and a growing range of reduced-risk* New Category tobacco and

nicotine products and traditional non-combustible tobacco products. These

include vapour, tobacco heating products, modern oral products including

tobacco-free nicotine pouches, as well as traditional oral products such as

snus and moist snuff. In 2020, we had 13.5 million consumers of our

non-combustible products, a rise of 3 million on the year before. The BAT Group

generated revenue of £25.8 billion in 2020 and profit from operations of £9.9

billion.

*Based on the weight of evidence and assuming a complete switch from cigarette

smoking. These products are not risk free and are addictive.

** Based on Vype/Vuse estimated value share from RRP in measured retail for

vapour (i.e. total vapour category value in retail sales) in the USA, Canada,

France, UK, Germany. These 5 markets cover an estimated 77% of global vapour

closed system NTO, calculated in June –July 2021.

About McLaren Racing

McLaren Racing was founded by New Zealand racing driver Bruce McLaren in 1963.

The team entered its first Formula 1 race in 1966, since then McLaren has won

20 Formula 1 world championships, more than 180 Formula 1 grands prix, the Le

Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt and the Indianapolis 500 three

times. McLaren Racing currently competes in Formula 1 globally and

INDYCAR in the US. Z

The team is contesting the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship with Lando

Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, and in the 2021 INDYCAR Series with Arrow McLaren

SP drivers Pato O'Ward and Felix Rosenqvist. McLaren was the first F1 team to

be certified carbon neutral ten years ago and has successfully retained the

Carbon Trust Standard Award, most recently in February 2021. They were also the

first team to be awarded the FIA Institute's Environmental Award in 2013, which

they have consistently maintained at three-star level.z

In 2022, McLaren Racing will enter a new category of motorsport when it enters

a team into Extreme E, the innovative all-electric off-road racing series that

highlights the impact of climate change.

About Rabab Tantawy

*** In this series Rabab Tantawy explores the need of human nature to connect

with heritage and community by taking as a matter of study the Nubian culture.

Born in 1971 in Cairo Rabab Tantawy grew up watching her mother draw and

create. Although she did not pursue an artistic career from the get-go, Rabab

always kept an interest in the arts and taught herself different techniques,

ranging from very traditional mediums like oil painting to modern ones like

spray-paints.

When Tantawy decided to dedicate herself to the arts she got involved in

several exhibitions while also actively pursuing street art.

Working with a multitude of mediums the artist created a playful approach to

the otherwise serious concepts that ground her work. Her biggest focus is on

union, community, and heritage.

While often we can see artists approach these subjects from a political point

of view, Rabab tries to bridge the gap and render these subjects through the

lens of universality.

Rabab is an intuitive artist. She doesn't work with preliminary sketches; she

uses the canvas as a support for direct download. There's no expectation for a

final product. In a way the product is the process of creation itself.

Line and colour are the pillars of Tantawy's work. Be it abstract or figurative

the artist's work starts from line. The lines function as a skeleton, informing

the whole process of the artwork in the making. Be it soft flowing lines or

strong angular ones, this step sets the rhythm of the work. While a lot of

artists are choosing to work with limited colour palettes, Tantawy switches

from classical earthy colours to strong neon colours in the same series with

the same ease she switches between mediums.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1702135/BAT_Rabab_Tantawy.jpg

SOURCE: BAT