There will be a temporary scoreboard in place for next year’s TT races.

According to Rob Callister, a political member with responsibility for Tourism and Motorsport, the replacement scoreboard intended for 2022’s races won’t be in place because the Treasury said the business case for the new structure wasn’t strong enough.

The proposals have been resubmitted to the Treasury ahead of next year’s budget.

Recognising the likely demands on Treasury finances for other priorities post pandemic, the Department for Enterprise (DfE) is currently exploring a range of options for the full or partial funding of the new TT scoreboard.

capital bid

This includes submitting a ’capital bid to underwrite the initial cost’, according to DfE.

It is hoped the new scoreboard will have been created in time for the 2023 races, plus there will be new features.

The DfE confirmed plans to install video screens displaying the planned new live television broadcast for fans in 2022 as a solution while the TT scoreboard is being replaced.

This follows on from the initial concepts which were to replace leader board panels with digital screens and to replace the timekeeper’s huts.

A spokesperson for the Department for Enterprise said: ’In line with our new strategy, we are exploring new ways of bringing this event to life and the live video screens next year will be an exciting way to bring the action to fans at the Grandstand.

’Our plan remains, however, to ultimately deliver a new fit for purpose TT scoreboard that reflects the heritage and tradition associated with over a century of TT racing.’

The previous scoreboard, a mobile structure, was incorporated into the permanent structure in the late 1980s.

It was overall in use for over a century.

The scoreboard required a large team to keep it updated during each race.

Its condition gradually deteriorated to the point that significant works were carried out in 2018 to extend its operational life.

It was originally located on Glencrutchery Road in Douglas as part of the 37.7 mile Snaefell Mountain circuit.

The DfE conducted a consultation in 2019, after which it was decided the scoreboard would be dismantled and replaced with a structure consisting of old and new technologies due to the steel structure being almost completely corroded and the wood having gone rotten.

Manx National Heritage has taken large parts of the previous scoreboard which will feature in the new Motorsport Gallery currently under development at the Manx Museum and due to open in 2022.

The gallery will illustrate the impact of the TT on the island over its 113-year history.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the DfE says the department is still confident it will be putting the 2022 TT races on.

The spokesperson said: ’The Department for Enterprise Motorsport team is focused on delivering the 2022 TT Races as outlined in the announcement that was made in June of this year.’

The announcement stated that the 2022 races would run from May 29 to June 10.