Cars arrive in Greenock ahead of Extreme E rally backed by F1 stars Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button

Electric off-road cars set to be used in a rally backed by Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have touched down in Greenock.

The Extreme E series will hold its Hydro X Prix at the former Glenmuckloch opencast coal mine in Dumfries and Galloway on May 13 and 14.

The series, which has teams backed by huge motorsport names such as Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button, hopes to highlight solutions to climate issues that are “right on our doorstep”.

The off-road cars arrived aboard the St Helena in Greenock on Thursday, in preparation for the series’ debut in Scotland.

Described as the championship’s “floating centrepiece”, the ship will be based in Troon throughout the build up to and duration of the Hydro X Prix.

The St Helena arrived in Scotland for Hydro X Prix on Thursday. Extreme E

The equipment departed from Saudi Arabia following March’s Desert X Prix double-header in NEOM.

Passing through the Suez Canal in Egypt, the St Helena has travelled across the Mediterranean, stopping in Algeciras, Spain, before the final leg to Scotland.

Alongside the fleet of ODYSSEY 21 electric race cars, the cargo includes the temporary paddock of team garages, Continental tyres, and all operational equipment required to set up the race site.

“It’s fantastic to see the St Helena’s safe arrival in Scotland, which marks a huge milestone in our preparations for Extreme E’s next round – the Hydro X Prix,” said Alejandro Agag, CEO and founder of Extreme E.

The St Helena will be based in Troon. Extreme E

“The UK is where Extreme E’s global voyage began and although we are an international championship it is always important to return to our roots.

“Racing in Scotland is going to be unique experience with a backdrop and setting like no other so far in the championship.”

With a focus on the promotion of electric vehicles and clean energy innovations, Extreme E views the old mine as a “perfect” location due to its plans to transform into a pumped storage hydropower plant and wind farm.

Extreme E views the old mine as a 'perfect' location for a rally. — Extreme E views the old mine as a ‘perfect’ location for a rally. Extreme E

Now in its third season, previous locations to have hosted the global event have included Greenland, the Atacama Desert, Saudi Arabia and Senegal.

The Hydro X Prix is the second round of Extreme E Season 3, joint-led for the first time by Veloce Racing and ACCIONA Sainz XE Team, who both secured their maiden wins during the Desert X Prix.

With 46 points, Veloce Racing and ACCIONA Sainz XE hold the lead over their nearest rivals – Nico Rosberg’s Rosberg X Racing, who sit in third on 31 points, followed by Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing (23 points) and Chip Ganassi’s team (15 points) in fourth and fifth, respectively.

The racing action will be available to watch live on STV over May 13 and 14.