McLaren F1's Halo To Be Sponsored By Flip Flop Brand Gandys

The halo device on McLaren's Formula 1 car will be sponsored by a flip flop manufacturer in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, according to Scott Mitchell of AUTOSPORT. McLaren announced a partnership with Gandys, a British lifestyle brand founded by brothers Rob and Paul Forkan after their parents died in the Dec. '04 tsunami that struck southeast Asia. Gandys' success enabled the Forkan brothers to "open a charitable foundation called Orphans For Orphans in Sri Lanka," where their parents were killed. The company and its charity work have "continued to grow since." McLaren's cars will feature Gandys branding on the halos in Melbourne next week. Gandys will also produce a "special McLaren-inspired" flip flop, dubbed a "halo edition" by the team, with 100% of profits going to Orphans For Orphans (AUTOSPORT, 3/16).