Organisers of an international racing series claim they spent “many million Euros” bringing it to Dumfries and Galloway.
And Extreme E officials haven’t ruled out bringing the championship back to the former open cast coal mine at Glenmuckloch.
The site near Kirkconnel hosted the electric off-road racing series, which aims to be environmentally friendly and promote sustainability, last week – the championship’s first ever visit to Scotland.
When asked about the benefits of bringing an event which doesn’t allow in paying fans to the region, Extreme E CEO and founder, Alejandro Agag, told the Standard: “There is all the economic impact for the area. We spent many million Euros putting this race together.
“The UK Government promised us £1 million, Rishi (Sunak) put it on the budget but we haven’t seen that – it’s lost between all the departments!
“There is a big investment that comes with the race here.
“We had some Scottish officials here and they are all very positive about us coming back.
“We like it a lot. The finance is to be sorted. We will have some conversations to see if we find that million somewhere – and more. It is definitely a good option.”
Firms from across Dumfries and Galloway were used by organisers, supplying everything from beer and meat to portable loos and wheelie bins.
Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, Mairi McAllan, and Scottish Secretary and Dumfries and Galloway MP, Alister Jack, were among the interested observers on Saturday.
Buccleuch Estates has plans to turn Glenmuckloch into a pumped storage hydropower plant and a windfarm, which resulted in the event being called the Hydro X Prix.
Extreme E has a legacy programme, which is designed to help environmental projects in the areas it visits.
In the case of Dumfries and Galloway, that meant teaming up with Nith District Salmon Fishery Board in a bid to restore and improve habitats on the River Nith.
Mr Agag said: “I think the message is very good for Scotland – Scotland gets 97 per cent of its electricity from renewables.
“The people watching on ITV on Saturday told me there was a lot of explanation about what is being done here.
“Then of course there is the legacy programme. I have noticed quite a lot of interest from the media.
“TV numbers were very good on Saturday and I think they could be even better on Sunday, because of the crashes.”
Extreme E, which is now in its third season, aims to keep its carbon footprint and impact on the environments it visits to a minimum. That means no paying spectators are allowed to events.
Mr Agag added: “It is a tricky balance to do the event but then race without a trace.
“Apparently in Greenland where we were, you wouldn’t have a clue. That is a good thing.”
