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RMS St Helena has been refurbished to transport freight and infrastructure to the ports closest to the Extreme E’s race locations throughout the season.
The vessel’s use is part of the series’ commitment to minimising emissions, as well as facilitating scientific research via its on-board laboratory.
In the past, she was one of the final two ships to carry the RMS title and acted as a lifeline sailing between Cape Town and the remote British Overseas Territory of St Helena from 1990-2016.
The ship has now been under Extreme E’s stewardship for more than two years, undergoing an extensive multi-million euro renovation.
This included a comprehensive mechanical overhaul and a full interior refurbishment.
Extreme E was launched in April 2021 and is sanctioned by the FIA – the governing body for many auto racing events, including Formula One.
The series sees ten teams consisting of two drivers each, one male and one female, take part in five races across the world per year.
This year’s opening race was held in Saudi Arabia in March, with the next event taking place at Glenmuckloch opencast coal mine in Dumfries and Galloway on May 13 and 14.
The rest of this year’s race calendar is completed by events in Italy, the USA, and Chile.
Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “Extreme E is a unique sport for purpose racing series.
“We are thrilled to be headed to Scotland in May for the Hydro X Prix, and we could not have found a more perfect racing site than the former Glenmuckloch coal mine.
“Extreme E uses its racing platform to tell inspirational stories of global locations on the forefront of climate issues.
“Here in Scotland, our race site will play homage to the much needed transition of an old coal mine which is being given a new and exciting lease of life as a hydro-project which will provide a fully renewable energy source for the region for centuries to come.”
