The team behind the all-electric off-road racing series, Extreme E, first revealed plans to create a pioneering hydrogen-powered off-shoot in 2022, with a prototype vehicle completing a shakedown last month.
Now Extreme E organisers have laid the foundations for Extreme H to launch in 2025 with the series receiving FIA Championship status for its inaugural year. The intention from both parties is for Extreme H to join the FIA’s portfolio of seven world championships, including Formula 1, the World Rally Championship, the World Endurance Championship and Formula E from 2026.
“Establishing alongside the FIA a world-first hydrogen racing world championship will be a momentous milestone for Extreme E and the new Extreme H series," said Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E.
“Eventual accreditation as an FIA Championship and then an FIA World Championship means we would be amongst the top tier of global motorsport categories, and Extreme H would be the first-ever world championship racing series of its kind.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, added: “We are excited to continue working with Extreme E on their journey to becoming an FIA World Championship. Using sustainable power sources in motorsport is the key objective of the FIA and part of our long-term strategy, and this series is an ideal showcase for that.
“Hydrogen is an important part of that mix, and we have developed a set of safety regulations for hydrogen-powered vehicles which is part of the FIA’s International Sporting Code.”
Following the Extreme E model, Extreme H will be based around a newly designed spec car developed by Spark Racing Technology. This will be powered by a control hydrogen fuel cell that will produce the same power-to-weight ratio as the current Extreme E Odyssey 21 machine.
Source: Autosport