Hydrogen-Powered Motorsport: The FIA Extreme H World Cup
The FIA Extreme H World Cup features hydrogen-powered racing cars in a push to make motorsport more eco-friendly.
The races will be covered by 90 broadcasters across 180 global markets.
The event aims to showcase the benefits of hydrogen technology in a competitive racing environment.
Extreme H has agreed a multi-year agreement with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motorsport.
FIA previously supported the Extreme E racing series, which has seen the rise in hydrogen usage.
The series evolved from using hydrogen fuel cells for car charging in Season 1 in 2021 to powering 80% of its event operations with hydrogen in Season 4 in 2024.
The deal between the FIA and Extreme H focuses on cutting-edge technology, sustainability and an equal-gender racing format.
The FIA Extreme H World Cup will be the second international four-wheel motorsport event to feature teams of one male and one female driver, after Extreme E.
This demonstrates its commitment to promoting a level playing field in motorsport by opening doors for more women to compete at the highest level.
About the FIA Extreme H World Cup
Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia has been confirmed to host the inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup.
The races will take place in a specifically designed off-road location near the Tuwaiq Mountains that is undergoing transformation to become a world-leading motorsport venue.
The city aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060, with initiatives that include 100% waste water reuse, renewable energy infrastructure and EV charging in 80% of parking spaces.
It also plans to focus on planting trees to align with the country’s Saudi Green Initiative which is a broader national goal of planting 10 billion trees nationwide by 2030 to improve air quality and biodiversity.
“Qiddiya City is the ideal launchpad for the FIA Extreme H World Cup, a new frontier for motorsport that embodies purpose, innovation and entertainment,” says Alejandro Agag, Founder and Chairman of Extreme H.
“More than just a race venue, it’s a statement of intent. A visually stunning, technologically ambitious location that sets the tone for a new era of motorsport. We are proud to showcase the power of hydrogen and sustainable technology.”
The racing will begin with the official conclusion to the previous Extreme E championship on 4 and 5 October before Extreme H runs from 9 through 11 October.
We are proud to showcase the power of hydrogen and sustainable technology.
The hydrogen-powered Pioneer 25
The event’s eight international teams will race in the Pioneer 25 car, developed by Spark Racing Technology.
The car was designed specifically for the Extreme H event, built on years of innovation and data collected from Extreme E.
Fuel cells are powered by hydrogen gas which demonstrates the viability of hydrogen as a clean energy source.
The 2,200 kilogram car is able to reach 100kph in 4.5 seconds because of its peak 400kW output. This makes it able to drive with speed and precision across tough terrains.
These developments open opportunities for further investment into hydrogen infrastructure.
Clean energy partnership with Tamgo
The FIA Extreme H World Cup is partnering with Tamgo as its Official Clean Energy Infrastructure Provider.
Tamgo will provide hydrogen fuel cell power and supporting services across both the Extreme E and Extreme H events.
It uses an AFC Energy 200kW hydrogen-powered, liquid-cooled fuel cell system which is designed to support large-scale events and will deliver reliable, zero emission power with no noise pollution.
Rami Elayan, General Manager at Tamgo, says: “As the world’s first hydrogen motorsport championship, Extreme H represents a defining moment for both sport and clean energy innovation. This milestone demonstrates how hydrogen has evolved from supporting individual races to becoming the core energy source for an entire global championship.
“By providing the clean energy infrastructure, Tamgo is proud to play a central role in showcasing Saudi Arabia’s leadership in sustainable technologies and advancing the ambitions of Vision 2030.”
