Extreme H

Extreme H, officially the FIA Extreme H World Cup, is an international off-road racing series built around hydrogen fuel-cell electric sport-utility vehicles. It was developed by the organization behind Extreme E, the electric off-road championship, and is intended to carry forward that series' emphasis on climate awareness, remote-location racing and equal participation by men and women. Each team is required to field one male and one female driver, with both drivers sharing the driving duties during an event. The concept emerged in 2022, when Extreme E's management announced plans for a hydrogen-focused sister championship. The original proposal envisaged a 2024 launch and a hydrogen adaptation of Extreme E's Spark Odyssey 21 race car. In August 2023, Extreme E and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to establish a regulatory framework for the new category. The parties initially discussed a 2025 inaugural season and possible FIA World Championship recognition from 2026, subject to the relevant sporting requirements. In January 2024, the organizers changed direction and announced that Extreme H would replace Extreme E rather than operate alongside it. Spark Racing Technology, which supplied the Extreme E car and has also built cars for Formula E, was selected to design and manufacture the dedicated competition vehicle. The resulting Spark Pioneer 25 prototype was presented in London in June 2024 aboard the RMS St Helena. The car combines a 75 kW hydrogen fuel cell supplied by Symbio with a 325 kW battery developed by Fortescue Zero, giving the vehicle a total power output of approximately 400 kW. Its tubular steel structure, central driving position, crash structures and roll cage are designed for the demands of off-road competition. The SUV weighs about 2,200 kilograms, accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in roughly 4.5 seconds and is designed to climb gradients of up to 130 percent. Yokohama supplies the championship's control tyres, based on the Geolandar X-AT. The vehicle completed its development phase in June 2025 and made its first public dynamic appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2025. Catie Munnings drove the Pioneer 25 during its first hill-climb outing, with Cristina Gutiérrez, Klara Andersson and Amanda Sorensen also participating in demonstrations during the event. Extreme H premiered with a three-day FIA World Cup event at Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia from 9 to 11 October 2025. Eight entrants participated, including Carl Cox Motorsport, JBX, Team Hansen, Kristoffersson Motorsport, Team EVEN, Jameel Motorsport, STARD and ZEROID Motorsport. Veloce Racing, although an early prospective entrant, did not compete in the inaugural event. The series' sporting format combines timed runs, head-to-head races and multi-car off-road heats. Results from the three disciplines determine the order in which teams select their starting positions for an eight-car final. The championship also functions as a technology and communications platform for hydrogen mobility. Its organizers present the use of a hydrogen fuel cell alongside a battery-electric drivetrain as a way to demonstrate zero-tailpipe-emission propulsion in a demanding motorsport environment. Broadcast agreements have been announced with partners including FOX Sports, ESPN, SPOTV, Sony Pictures Networks, ITV, Mediaset, Ziggo Sport, Eurosport and DAZN, giving the series distribution across the Americas, Asia, Europe and other markets.

Extreme H developed from the off-road motorsport organization behind Extreme E. In 2022, Extreme E management publicly discussed creating a hydrogen racing championship that would use a format similar to Extreme E. The proposed series was initially expected to begin in 2024 and was to use a hydrogen fuel-cell version of the Spark Odyssey 21, Extreme E's electric SUV. A more formal institutional framework began to take shape in August 2023, when Extreme E and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding. The agreement set out a basis for developing sporting and technical rules for Extreme H. At that stage, the organizers described 2025 as the target for the inaugural season and indicated that the series could receive FIA World Championship status in 2026 if it satisfied the necessary criteria. The strategic relationship with Extreme E changed in January 2024. Rather than launch Extreme H as a championship operating alongside the electric series, the organization announced that the hydrogen category would replace Extreme E. This made Extreme H the principal continuation of the project's environmental motorsport concept, while retaining the earlier championship's focus on remote venues, sustainability messaging and mixed-gender teams. Spark Racing Technology was appointed to develop the new vehicle. The company had previously supplied the Extreme E chassis and had built all three generations of Formula E cars. Its Extreme H design, named the Spark Pioneer 25, was unveiled in London on 27 June 2024 aboard the RMS St Helena. A special Red Bull livery was used for the prototype presentation. Hedda Hosås and Adrien Tambay were named as official test drivers during the development program. The Pioneer 25 uses a hybrid hydrogen-electric architecture. A Symbio fuel cell rated at 75 kW is combined with a 325 kW Fortescue Zero battery, producing approximately 400 kW of total power. The vehicle has a niobium-reinforced steel-alloy tubular frame, a central driving seat, and dedicated crash and rollover protection. Its published performance figures include a weight of approximately 2,200 kilograms, 0-to-60-mph acceleration in about 4.5 seconds and the ability to tackle gradients of up to 130 percent. Yokohama was appointed the official tyre supplier and developed a competition tyre based on its Geolandar X-AT model. Vehicle development was completed in June 2025. The Pioneer 25 then appeared publicly at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from 10 to 13 July 2025. Catie Munnings drove the first hill-climb run, while Cristina Gutiérrez, Klara Andersson and Amanda Sorensen also drove the car during the event. Extreme H's inaugural competition took place at Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia from 9 to 11 October 2025. The event was staged as a three-day FIA World Cup rather than a conventional multi-round season. Eight entrants took part: Carl Cox Motorsport, JBX, Team Hansen, Kristoffersson Motorsport, Team EVEN, Jameel Motorsport, STARD and ZEROID Motorsport. Veloce Racing, despite being among the earliest teams to express an intention to enter, was not part of the inaugural event. The sporting format draws heavily on Extreme E while introducing three distinct disciplines. Teams first compete in individual time trials. They then contest head-to-head drag-style heats using a knockout structure, followed by multi-car off-road heats. Points from all three sections determine the order in which teams choose their starting positions for the final. All eight cars are eligible for the four-lap World Cup final, whose winner is the overall event winner. Each team must nominate one male and one female driver, and the pair share driving duties through a designated driver-switch zone. The series has pursued broad media distribution. Announced partners include FOX Sports for the United States, Mexico and Central America; ESPN for Latin America; SPOTV in fourteen Asian countries; Sony Pictures Networks in India; ITV in Great Britain; Mediaset in Italy; Ziggo Sport in the Netherlands; Eurosport in more than fifty European territories; and DAZN for global free-to-air coverage. These partnerships support Extreme H's dual identity as a racing championship and a public demonstration of hydrogen technology.

1. 2025Vehicle development completed

   Development of the Pioneer 25 was completed in June, followed by its first public running at Goodwood in July.

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2. 2025Inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup held

   The first Extreme H event took place at Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia, from 9 to 11 October.

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3. 2024Extreme H designated as Extreme E's successor

   The organization announced that Extreme H would replace Extreme E rather than coexist with it.

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4. 2024Spark Pioneer 25 unveiled

   Spark Racing Technology revealed the Pioneer 25 hydrogen SUV prototype in London aboard the RMS St Helena.

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5. 2023FIA memorandum of understanding signed

   Extreme E and the FIA signed a non-binding memorandum concerning the framework for Extreme H.

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6. 2022Hydrogen championship concept announced

   Extreme E management announced plans for a hydrogen-powered sister racing series, initially targeting a 2024 launch.

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Hydrogen-powered off-road motorsport and clean-mobility technology showcase

• FIA Extreme H World CupHydrogen off-road racing championship2025

  The core Extreme H offering is an FIA-sanctioned off-road racing competition for spec hydrogen fuel-cell electric SUVs. Its events combine individual time trials, head-to-head knockout heats and multi-car off-road races. Teams must use one male and one female driver, with equal driving responsibilities and a driver change in a designated switch zone. The format is designed to combine close racing with a visible demonstration of hydrogen propulsion in difficult terrain.

• Spark Pioneer 25Spec racing vehicle2024

  The Spark Pioneer 25 is the purpose-built competition SUV used by Extreme H. Spark Racing Technology manufactures the vehicle, which pairs a 75 kW Symbio hydrogen fuel cell with a 325 kW Fortescue Zero battery. It uses a reinforced tubular steel chassis, a central driving position and dedicated safety structures. The vehicle is rated at approximately 400 kW, weighs about 2,200 kilograms and is engineered for high-speed off-road competition and steep gradients.

• Extreme H broadcast packageSports media rights2025

  Extreme H distributes its events through a network of regional and international broadcasters. Announced partners include FOX Sports, ESPN, SPOTV, Sony Pictures Networks, ITV, Mediaset, Ziggo Sport and Eurosport. DAZN has also announced global free-to-air coverage. The distribution strategy is intended to make the championship available across the Americas, Europe, Asia and other international markets.

• 2025Goodwood Festival of Speed vehicle showcase

  United Kingdom · International motorsport audience

  Extreme H presented the Pioneer 25 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, using a public hill-climb demonstration to introduce the hydrogen race vehicle before the inaugural World Cup.

  Outcome. Catie Munnings completed the first public hill-climb run, followed by demonstration drives from Cristina Gutiérrez, Klara Andersson and Amanda Sorensen.

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• 2025Launch as a standalone FIA World Cup eventOther

  The new championship replaced Extreme E but began without a documented full multi-round season in its inaugural year.

  What changed. Extreme H held a single three-day World Cup event at Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia from 9 to 11 October 2025.

  Aftermath. Eight entrants competed in a format combining time trials, head-to-head races, multi-car heats and an eight-car final.

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• 2024Make Extreme H the successor to Extreme EStrategy

  The original plan treated Extreme H as a hydrogen sister series that would coexist with the electric Extreme E championship.

  What changed. The organization announced that Extreme H would replace Extreme E instead of operating as a parallel championship.

  Aftermath. Extreme H became the organization's main off-road racing platform and launched its first FIA World Cup event in Saudi Arabia in 2025.

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• 2024Adopt the Spark Pioneer 25 as the spec vehicleProduct launch

  The proposed championship required a dedicated hydrogen-electric vehicle capable of adapting the Extreme E concept to hydrogen propulsion.

  What changed. Spark Racing Technology designed and built the Pioneer 25 with a Symbio fuel cell and Fortescue Zero battery.

  Aftermath. The prototype was unveiled in June 2024, completed development in 2025 and entered public demonstration at Goodwood before the inaugural World Cup.

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• 2025Pioneer 25 makes public debut at Goodwood

  The hydrogen SUV made its first public running at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where Catie Munnings drove it on the hill climb.

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• 2025Extreme H launches with inaugural FIA World Cup in Saudi Arabia

  The championship held its first event at Qiddiya City from 9 to 11 October 2025, featuring eight entrants and a three-discipline competition format.

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• 2025DAZN announces global free-to-air Extreme H coverage

  DAZN announced global free-to-air coverage of the championship, adding to the series' existing regional broadcast arrangements.

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• 2024Extreme H announced as replacement for Extreme E

  The organizers stated that Extreme H would replace Extreme E instead of operating as a parallel sister series.

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• 2024Spark Pioneer 25 hydrogen race car unveiled

  Spark Racing Technology presented the Pioneer 25 prototype in London as the dedicated competition vehicle for Extreme H.

  Product launch
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• 2023Extreme E and FIA establish framework for Extreme H

  Extreme E and the FIA signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding concerning the proposed hydrogen racing championship, including its sporting and regulatory framework.

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1. Extreme H
2. Official FIA Extreme H website