25-10-06 Team Hansen triumphs
in Extreme Es final round with victory for Munnings and Bakkerud
In a thrilling finale to the Extreme E championship, Team Hansen
claimed a maiden victory in the last-ever round of the series. The extraordinary
achievement marks back-to-back podiums on the Swedish squads debut weekend.
Team Hansen was assembled from all corners of motorsport for Extreme Es
Final Lap in Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia, including a new driver pairing in Catie
Munnings and Andreas Bakkerud. The win stands as a testament to the enduring
passion, commitment, and competitive spirit of the team, with Hansen Motorsport
bringing its 35 years of experience and winning ways to a brand-new racing
environment.
Following a third-place finish in Saturday's round of Extreme Es Final
Lap, the second half of the celebratory double-header was one of highs and
lows for the newly formed team. After winning their Q1 Heat, despite suffering
an issue during the launch, the Hansen outfit endured a tough Heat in Q2,
finishing last after another troublesome launch off the line.
While bad starts brought frustration, clean and composed racing paid off when
it mattered most. Penalties for two of the other teams in Q2 Heat 1 promoted
the Hansen squad to second place, securing a spot in the Grand Final once
more.
As chaos unfolded around them, Team Hansen stayed out of trouble and seized
every opportunity. In the Final, Munnings showcased her Extreme E experience,
narrowly avoiding a collision between Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and
Hedda Hosås that put both KMS cars out of the race.
Munnings then went on the charge, reeling in Jameel Motorsports Molly
Taylor with a series of purple sectors all the way to the Switch Zone. Bakkerud
took over for the second half of the race, finding himself chasing none other
than Kevin Hansen.
Hansen extended his lead, crossing the line in first place for Jameel Motorsport
on home soil, but penalties for speeding in the yellow flagged slow zone demoted
the Saudi team to second place.
For Munnings, the result marks a perfect conclusion to her Extreme E journey.
Competing in every single event in the championships history, the Brit
now adds a second X Prix victory to her record, while Bakkerud celebrates
his first-ever X Prix win.
Catie Munnings, Team Hansen driver, said: "It feels really emotional
to end Extreme E on such a high. Ive been a part of this championship
since day one, and to take a win in the final-ever round together with
the Hansens who I consider family - is something Ill never forget.
"The Final had everything. Chaos, pressure, and those moments where you
just have to trust your instincts braking at the start of the race
to avoid Mikaela [Åhlin-Kottulinsky] and Hedda [Hosås] was definitely
one of those moments! Im so proud of what weve achieved together
this weekend in such a short time, and I cant wait to take on the FIA
Extreme H World Cup next week with this team."
Andreas Bakkerud, Team Hansen driver, said: "Taking my first Extreme
E win with Team Hansen and achieving it in only our second race together as
a team is honestly incredible. Even though it was their debut in the series,
the Hansens have a lot of experience in motorsport, and the teams success
this weekend just shows the passion and commitment that has led to so many
victories.
"Now we can add winning the last-ever Extreme E race to each of our lists!
Going from being rivals to making history together is a lot to take in, and
on top of that I was chasing Kevin [Hansen] in that Final which was crazy.
Weve battled so many times in the past, and to now stand on the top
step with his familys team feels like things have come full circle."
Kenneth Hansen, Team Hansen Team Principal, said: "We came into this
round with no expectations, just determination and a love for what we do.
To win the last-ever Extreme E race, with a new line-up and so many unknowns,
is something very special. It shows what Team Hansen is all about and we are
ready to turn our attention to a new adventure next week with Extreme H."
As the dust settles on Extreme E, the teams prepare for the championships
transition into the FIA Extreme H World Cup, taking place in Qiddiya, Saudi
Arabia, next week (9-11 October).
25-10-06 Jameel Motorsport
Bounces Back from Saturday Dramas to Top Qualifying for Desert X Prix Race
2
Jameel Motorsport Bounces Back from
Saturday Dramas to Top Qualifying for Desert X Prix Race 2.
Jameel Motorsport enjoyed redemption at the start of the 2025 Desert X Prix
Race 2 as they topped qualifying.
The team of Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor started Saturday on the back foot
after a roll for Taylor during qualifying for the first race of the weekend.
There was no repeat of that on Sunday, with them winning their Q1 Heat, and
finishing second in their Q2 Heat, along with taking the fastest Super Sector
time to beat Team Hansen's Andreas Bakkerud and Catie Munnings to the top
spot.
In Q1 Race 1, Taylor made a strong start to lead into the first corner, but
it was ACCIONA | SAINZ XE TEAM's Fraser McConnell who emerged from the tightening
right-hander in the lead. From there the Jamaican dropped the hammer and held
a 8.665s lead at the mid-race Switch.
In the Jameel entry, Kevin Hansen immediately set about closing that gap once
he took over the car, and closed to just over two seconds by the start of
the final lap.
His chance to pounce came at Gate 11 on the final lap where he set up a move
which he completed two laps later. Sanz attempted to re-take the lead at Gate
15, but her wider entry opened the door for Carl Cox Motorsport's Timo Schider
to sneak up the inside, relegating the Acciona Sainz car to third.
STARD's Amanda Sorensen and Patrick O'Donovan finished fourth after getting
passed by Carl Cox's hard-charging Klara Andersson on the first lap.
Q2 Race 2 was won by Team Hansen after late race drama for Team KMS and Team
EVEN dropped them out of contention.
JBX Powered by Team Monaco took an early lead courtesy of Christine GZ, but
similar to the first corner in the first Heat, it was KMS' Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky
who exited in the lead after a fine over-under move.
Christine GZ fell further back after EVEN's Hosås snuck up the inside
at Gate 15, with the two making contact and Munnings also getting by. Hosås'
charge continued right up to the Switch Zone where she slammed on the brakes
late to close the gap to the KMS car to just 0.833s.
Kristoffersson maintained KMS's lead on the third lap, but a mechanical failure
left him with only front-wheel-drive, allowing Ole Christian Veiby in the
EVEN car to close rapidly. But the Norwegian's shot at victory unravelled
when his car suffered a total rear motor failure.
The issues for the leading duo enabled Bakkerud to get by both to win for
Team Hansen. JBX also capitalised to take second, with KMS and EVEN being
classified third and fourth.
In Q2, an issue during the launch left Bakkerud and Team Hansen dropping back
at the start, while Scheider maintained the lead for Carl Cox through the
first turn despite contact at the rear from O'Donovan in the STARD car.
Schider ran wide at Gate 7, however, allowing Kristoffersson to move the KMS
car into the lead. Further contact between the Carl Cox and STARD cars at
Gate 16 on the opening lap allowed Bakkerud to close further, but he didn't
get by.
The drama between those three allowed KMS to hold a 9.635s lead at the Switch,
and that grew to 17.682s by the end of the race once Ahlin-Kottulinsky took
over the car.
The Hansen machine, with Munnings driving in the second half of the race,
finished fourth behind Carl Cox and STARD, but a missed Gate and a hit Gate
flag respectively dropped both down the order.
Much like its sister car, the KMS-run EVEN entry made up for its Q1 struggles
by winning Race 2 of Q2.
After a tight duel with JBX's Tommi Hallman through the first turn and first
two jumps, Veiby edged into a lead his team wouldn't relinquish by Gate 7
on the opening lap
It wasn't a foregone conclusion though, with the lead trio of EVEN, JBX, and
Jameel all exiting the Switch Zone three abreast.
Three became two soon after with Christine GZ running deep into the turn back
onto the track, while EVEN's victory was eventually secured by 4.849s over
Jameel, with JBX taking third.
McConnell put the Acciona Sainz car on its side following an off-track excursion
between Gates 7 and 8 while trying to catch the top three.
The Extreme E action concludes later today with the Redemption Race
featuring JBX, EVEN, Acciona Sainz, and STARD at 16:26 local time,
followed by the Final at 16:40 local time, which will include Jameel, Team
Hansen, KMS, and Carl Cox.
For more information and all the latest news and developments, head to
www.extreme-e.com/
25-10-05 Succé direkt
för KMS i Extreme E
Kristoffersson Motorsport gjorde succédebut i Extreme E genom att
ta en dubbelseger i första racet i Saudiarabien. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky/Johan
Kristoffersson i Team KMS vann med systerteamet Team EVEN, Hedda Hosås/Ole
Christian Veiby, som tvåa.
- Att komma hit för första gången och sätta en 1-2 känns
helt fantastiskt, säger teamets VD Tommy Kristoffersson.
Kristoffersson Motorsport kom till Saudiarabien som rookie-team i Extreme
E, men levererade direkt, som om man aldrig hade gjort annat. Efter att Johan
Kristoffersson och Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky i Team KMS hade kvalat
in till finalen som tvåa och Ole Christian Veiby och Hedda Hosås
i Team EVEN som trea så blev det till slut dubbelt KMS högst upp
på prispallen.
- En fantastisk dag, med ett bra kval och därefter dubbelseger. Gôtt
att ta hem en seger till KMS-teamet, säger Mikaela, den ena halvan i
den värmländska duon.
Hon fick ta bilen till mållinjen efter att teamkompisen säkrat
ledningen i starten.
Johan Kristoffersson tog en tuff duell med Laia Sanz i Acciona Sainz in i
första svängarna på finalen. Johan kom ut som vinnare medan
Sanz fick skador på bilen. Bakom där manövrerade Veiby och
Hosås sig upp till andra plats. En fantastisk första insats av
nya Team EVEN med Extreme E-debutanten Veiby.
- Det har varit väldigt mycket nya grejer att tänka på, men
jag har kommit in i det snabbt, säger Ole Christian, efter en imponerande
insats tillsammans med unga Hosås.
- Hedda är ung, men har erfarenhet av det här sedan tidigare medan
det för Ole Christian var helt nytt. Oerhört starkt jobbat av båda,
säger Tommy.
Likaså av Team KMS, där rutinerade paret Kristoffersson och Åhlin-Kottulinsky
byggde på sin rad med segrar. Tio triumfer för Johan är rekord
i Extreme E genom alla tider.
- Oerhört lovande för fortsättningen med Extreme H under veckan.
Alla våra fyra förare har haft bra tempo och fina sektortider.
De har också jobbat extremt bra ihop, med analyser under all ledig tid
som finns, säger Tommy.
Andra dagen blev inte riktigt samma solskenshistoria för KMS och det
var kämpigt redan i kvalet. I Q1 fick både KMS och EVEN tekniska
problem, från position ett och två. Kristoffersson lyckades ta
sin bil i mål som trea, men Veiby blev stående. Så långt
var finalplatserna långt utom räckhåll. Men skam den som
ger sig och att ge upp finns inte i KMS:s DNA. I Q2 såg Johan till att
ge Mikaela en stor ledning inför förarbytet och det blev sedan en
lugn cruise till seger.
- Jag fick till en bra och viktig omkörning på Timo Scheider och
sen körde Mikaela snabbt också, säger Johan.
EVEN-duon gjorde också sitt jobb och hamnade på samma poäng
som flera andra team om den sista finalplatsen, vilken man nöp tack vare
snabbaste super sector. Båda bilarna i final även dag
2 alltså!
- Vi var snabbast i super sector båda dagarna, vilket visade sig vara
väldigt värdefullt, säger Ole Christian Veiby, efter att han
och Hedda säkrat sin andra finalplats.
Men väl där blev det ett snabbt slut för båda ekipagen
och faktiskt var det närkontakt mellan just Åhlin-Kottulinsky och
Hosås som satte stopp, efter att norskan oturligt nog fått en
touch på bakskärmen. Mikaela bjöds också på en
rejäl luftfärd med två varv i luften, men kunde krypa ut oskadd.
- Det var ju tråkigt i den sista finalen i Extreme E, men tack och lov
gick det bra. Vi har säkra bilar, säger Mikaela.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky/Kristoffersson tog ändå sista platsen på
pallen som trea. Därmed är också Mikaela den som har tagit
flest pallplaceringar i tävlingens historia.
- Det stämmer. Sexton stycken. Johan har flest segrar och jag flest pallplaceringar.
Jag och Molly Taylor har sju segrar var bland tjejerna, berättar Mikaela.
I och med helgens två race är Extreme E-sagan all. Under kommande
vecka väntar Extreme H, med vätgasdrivna bilar, även denna
gång med såväl Team KMS som Team EVEN tävlande för
Kristoffersson Motorsport.
- Mycket nytt att lära känna, tyngre bilar och en annan teknologi,
avslutar Johan Kristoffersson.
25-10-05 Team
Hansen takes podium on Extreme E debut
Team Hansen made an instant impact on their first Extreme E outing, claiming
a remarkable third-place finish in Race 1 of the championships Final
Lap in Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia.
Competing for the first time in the all-electric off-road series, the Swedish
outfit fielded a new pairing in the form of Andreas Bakkerud and Catie Munnings,
who both delivered impressive performances as part of a new team.
This weekends double-header marks a farewell for Extreme E as the championship
brings its pioneering electric racing journey to a close. After four seasons
of competition across some of the planets most challenging and environmentally
significant locations, the series will be transitioning into the first-ever
hydrogen powered motorsport the FIA Extreme H World Cup next
week (9-11 October).
Despite the Swedish squads lack of kilometres in the unique electric
SUV format, Bakkeruds trademark aggression and Munnings extensive
experience from her time with the Andretti Extreme E team proved a potent
combination. Together, they navigated the demanding Qiddiya course to secure
third place on debut.
Andreas Bakkerud, Team Hansen driver, said: It is an amazing achievement
to kick things off at Team Hansen with a podium. It is not just a first Extreme
E podium for the team but also for myself, which makes it feel even more special.
Catie [Munnings] and I worked well together, and huge credit to the
team for giving us a great car from the very first session. So far it has
been great learning from each other, and were ready to push for an even
better result tomorrow.
Catie Munnings, Team Hansen driver, said: To bring home a podium for
Team Hansen on our first event together is something amazing. This Qiddiya
track is tough, but we kept it clean and showed that we can be competitive
right from the start.
A big thank you to the team for all their hard work so far. They are
such a motivated group and that played a huge part in our success today. We
know were capable of even more, and weve got tomorrow to prove
that we can take the win.
Kenneth Hansen, Team Hansen Team Principal, said: This is a fantastic
start to our Extreme E journey. Im very proud of how quickly everyone
in the team has come together, and of the way Andreas [Bakkerud] and Catie
[Munnings] performed under pressure. To step onto the podium on debut is a
testament to our team spirit and commitment to the sport. We came here to
learn, but weve also shown that Team Hansen is here to fight at the
front.
Andreas Bakkerud entered the team off-the-back of a fierce rivalry with the
Hansen outfit in rallycross. In stark contrast, Catie Munnings has been a
team-mate of Timmy Hansens since Extreme Es inception.
Both sides of the story feed into a strong respect between the members of
the newly formed Hansen Extreme E outfit, who showed no signs of being on
the backfoot.
Bakkerud kept a cool head in his first race start for the team. As the other
three ODYSEEY 21s tussled for position, the Norwegian took an alternative,
wider line. Not only did this give a clear line of sight, it also gave a clear
route through the chaos as all his competitors took race ending damage.
With a Heat win under their belts, the Hansen squad was able to play it safe
in Qualifying 2 Heat 2. This didnt stop Munnings from challenging
for second place before handing over to Bakkerud, who brought it home for
third in the Heat and third in overall qualifying.
A spot in the Grand Final secured, Team Hansen was ready to give their all
for a shot at a podium on debut. Struggling for traction on the launch, Bakkerud
slotted into fourth position in the opening corners. Damage to the ACCIONA
| SAINZ XE car denied the Hansen driver a chance to compete for the podium,
and it was down to Munnings to deliver a clean run to cross the finish line
in third place.
With one more day to go in Extreme Es Final Lap, Team Hansen now turns
its focus to Race 2 in Qiddiya, aiming to build on its strong debut and to
end its short foray in the championship on a high.
25-10-05 Team KMS triumphs
in Desert X Prix Race 1
It might have been a new team, but it was a familiar result for Johan Kristoffersson
and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky as they won Race 1 of the 2025 Desert X Prix
in Qiddiya City for Team KMS.
In the Redemption Race, for the four teams that didn't make it to the Final
after qualifying, Jameel Motorsport's Kevin Hansen made a strong start to
lead early on.
Competing in a spare car after a qualifying roll for Molly Taylor, Hansen
and the team were clearly unfazed and entered the mid-race switch with a lead
of 2.822s over JBX Powered by Team Monaco's Tommi Hallman.
Hallman was being caught by Carl Cox Motorsport's Timo Scheider towards the
end of the second lap, but a spin for the German at Gate 19 halted his charge.
Following the driver switch, reserve driver Claire Schönborn deputising
for Taylor took to the track for her very first competitive Extreme
E laps. Her inexperience barely showed, though, and she built on the advantage
that Hansen had established in the opening laps to cross the line seven seconds
clear of JBX driver Christine GZ.
STARD's Patrick O'Donovan and Amanda Sorensen mounted a late challenge on
JBX and crossed the line just 0.078s behind the second placed finisher.
Carl Cox rounded out the field after Klara Andersson had a second spin for
the team at Gate 15 on lap 3, having been on two wheels four gates earlier.
The Final began as a tense affair with ACCIONA | SAINZ XE TEAM's Laia Sanz
making a strong start from the far left grid position to take an early lead.
Kristoffersson didn't relent though taking the inside line, he snuck
through to first by the end of the long but tightening first turn. In the
pass, both the Acciona Sainz car and the KMS machine made contact twice, with
the Spanish entry suffering right rear suspension damage as a result, damage
that would end its race on the first lap.
After that, KMS was in control, with Kristoffersson entering the Switch Zone
with a 4.886s lead. Team EVEN, run out of the same KMS stable as the lead
entry, held second throughout, and eventually finished second, 6.235 back
after Ahlin-Kottulinsky took over the KMS entry and Hedda Hosås assumed
control of the EVEN car.
Team Hansen's Andreas Bakkerud and Catie Munnings had a quiet run to third,
avoiding the first corner drama, and settling into a consistent rhythm to
bring the car home.
The victory, a 10th for Johan Kristoffersson, extended his record as Extreme
Es most successful driver while his seventh victory alongside Ahlin-Kottulinsky
increased their record as the driver pairing with the most victories (seven).
With 15 podiums, Ahlin-Kottulinsky has more podiums than any other driver
in Extreme E.
For Bakkerud, he claimed his first Extreme E podium in his 13th start, setting
a new record for most races before a podium beating Christine GZs
previous record of 12. A fitting record for the man who typically races with
No. 13 in rallycross. And for Hosås it was a best result in Extreme
E, and her first podium since the 2022 Island X Prix I.
For the first time since Extreme Es debut race in Al-'Ula, three new
teams finished on the podium with winners KMS, EVEN, and Team Hansen all competing
for the first time this weekend it was also a first podium since the
the 2022 Island X Prix I to feature two new driver pairings.
Racing continues with the Desert X Prix Race 2 on Sunday with Qualifying starting
at 8:00 AM local time (KSA).
25-10-04 Acciona Sainz beats
KMS to top spot in Qualifying for Desert X Prix Race 1
Qiddiya City, 4 October, 2025: ACCIONA | SAINZ XE TEAM's Fraser
McConnell and Laia Sanz topped qualifying for the Race 1 of the 2025 Desert
X Prix in Qiddiya City, edging Kristofferson Motorsport's Johan Kristoffersson
and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky on a tie-breaker.
Both teams took a heat win and a second place on Saturday morning, but it
was Acciona Sainz's better Super Sector time that gave them the top spot for
Qualifying. Team Hansen's Andreas Bakkerud and Catie Munnings ended up third,
with Team EVEN's Ole Christian Veiby and Hedda Hosås being the final
team to advance to the Final.
Q1 Race 1 started with Jameel Motorsport's Kevin Hansen making a good start
from the far left grid position to lead KMS Kristoffersson out of the
first turn.
Hansen held a sizeable gap for most of the lap, but Kristoffersson closed
massively at Gates 15 and 16 and made contact with the Saudi Arabian team's
car. He could not find a way past though, and the top two remained the same.
Lap 2 was a similar story, but again Hansen remained resolute out in front.
Behind the lead pair, JBX Powered by Team Monaco's Tommi Hallman and EVEN's
Veiby held third and fourth respectively.
Following the mid-race driver change, Molly Taylor continued to lead for Jameel,
but Ahlin-Kottulinsky, who'd taken over the KMS entry from Johan Kristoffersson,
had closed in quickly.
At Gate 3, Ahlin-Kottulinsky went up the inside to take the lead. Three gates
later, at the second jump of the course, the rear of Taylor's Odyssey bounced
upon landing and was pitched into a roll, coming to a rest on its roof.
Taylor was able to climb from the car unaided, but was taken to the on-site
medical centre for review, and upon assessment was transferred to a local
hospital but returned to the paddock soon after.
Reserve Driver Claire Schönborn will step in for Molly Taylor for the
rest of the day, with the team focused on getting the championship car ready
for the Redemption Race. Taylor is hopeful of returning to the cockpit tomorrow.
The crash led to a red flag, with the race not resuming afterwards. KMS
Kristoffersson and Ahlin-Kottulinsky were declared the winners ahead of JBXs
Hallman and Christine GZ, with EVEN third with Veiby and Hedda Hosås.
In the second Q1 qualifying race, Team Hansen's Bakkerud and Munnings won
after what turned out to be an attritional contest.
The Swedish team took its chance early on when contact between Carl Cox Motorsport's
Timo Scheider and Acciona Sainz's Sanz opened the door for Bakkerud to sneak
past.
Bakkerud and Scheider had banged doors off the start line, which allowed Sanz
to take an early lead, but Scheider soon caught up, only for him to make contact
with the early race leader.
While Team Hansen continued out in front unchallenged, the three other entrants
all failed to finish. Scheider's car suffered front left suspension damage
and retired after a spin near Gate 8, while Sanz initially continued, albeit
with right rear damage, only to eventually retire on the second lap.
The contact between the Carl Cox and Acciona Sainz cars caused visibility
issues for STARD's Patrick O'Donovan who had to take avoiding action and ended
up off track as well. ODonovan initially attempted to continue, but
was eventually forced to retire the car. However, as he had passed the stricken
Carl Cox machine, he and team-mate Amanda Sorensen were classified third.
In the first race of Q2, Acciona Sainz and KMS dueled from the start, with
McConnell eventually prevailing over Ahlin-Kottulinsky for the Spanish team.
By the time of the mid-race driver switch, Acciona Sainz had a lead of over
seven seconds, but with Kirstoffersson now at the wheel of the KMS machine,
he began to reel in Sanz who'd taken over the lead car.
At the end of the third lap, the gap had been halved, but Sanz responded on
the final tour to add another half second to her team's advantage. She eventually
crossed the line 4.095s ahead of Kristoffersson.
JBX's Christine GZ and Hallman finished a distant third after an uneventful
race, while Carl Cox again failed to finish with Klara Anderson stopping just
before Gate 6 after a wiper failure hampered her visibility. After a brief
revival, she stopped again at Gate 8 and didnt continue.
The second race of Q2 started with Team EVEN's Hosås activating her
Hyperdrive when the lights went out, which allowed her to power round the
outside of the first corner and take an early lead.
Sorensen quickly moved into second, ahead of Munnings of Team Hansen who,
having already qualified for the Final, opted to stay out of trouble.
Hosås, unchallenged at the front, held a 13.373s lead at the Switch,
but an issue with the passenger door once Veiby took over caused the team
to lose 8.710s seconds during the stop.
That could have been beneficial for the second-placed STARD car, now being
driven by O'Donovan, but a moment at Gate 10 when he pitched onto two wheels
and hit a trackside bank cost him early.
That, and Veiby's impressive pace in what what was only his second-ever Extreme
E qualifying heat, allowed Even to take the victory by 11.024s, ahead of STARD,
with Bakkerud bringing the Hansen car home third following that team's conservative
run.
Jameel was set to race in Q2 Race 2, but after Taylor's crash in Q1, the team
was forced to sit out while they prepare a spare car for the rest of the weekend.
The action continues later today with the Redemption Race featuring
STARD, JBX, Jameel, and Carl Cox at 15:15 local time, followed by the
Final at 16:26 local time, which will include Acciona Sainz, KMS, Team Hansen,
and EVEN.
For more information and all the latest news and developments, head to
www.fiaextremeh.com
25-10-04 The Worlds
Best Off-Road Course unveiled for Extreme E and Extreme H in Qiddiya
City
Extreme E and the FIA Extreme H World Cup have unveiled the courses which
will be used for a thrilling two weeks of action in Qiddiyah City.
Situated by Qiddiya Citys Tuwaiq Mountains, close to the site which
is currently undergoing transformation to become a world-leading motorsport
venue, the new course is the series most extreme to date, encompassing
everything from dramatic jumps and demanding turns, to banked corners and
wide-open straights, that will all not only challenge the drivers and teams,
but perfectly showcase the advancements made with the Pioneer 25.
This is the worlds best off-road race track, said James
Taylor, Extreme E and Extreme H Chief Championship Officer. It has everything:
sweeping turns and berms, fast straights, and jumps, set against the unbeatable
backdrop of the Tuwaiq Mountains. We cannot wait to see the drivers on it
in practice tomorrow!
The course will show off just how versatile and high-performing our
Extreme E and Extreme H cars are.
For the first time on an Extreme weekend, multiple courses will
be used over the event, offering up a range of challenges for drivers and
teams.
Time Trial and Multi-Car Racing
Action starts with Extreme Es Final Lap swansong
a series of multi-car races over two days.
That course will then form the basis of the Extreme H Time Trial, Multi-Car,
and World Cup Final, albeit with changes that will showcase the advancements
made with the Pioneer 25s chassis, suspension, and improved range.
The lap begins with a fast entry at Gate 1 into an ever-tightening right-hander
through Gate 2, with a widening exit to promote opening lap action.
From that exit, the race is on, with a blast over back-to-back jumps at Gates
5 and 6 first up, the smallest jump on the course, then the second
biggest.
From here, the course takes on two distinct personalities for Extreme E and
Extreme H.
After the second jump, Extreme E has a fairly quick entry into a heavy braking
zone for a left, while the Extreme H route goes from a faster run into a right-left
complex that'll put the Pioneer 25's new and improved FOX Suspension
which will enable to to attack corners much better though its paces.
The two routes reconvene for a climb up to a tabletop-esque section which
ends with a significant jump and drop off. A left at Gate 10 after the drop
leads to an immediate right and another climb to Gate 11 where a blind brow
and immediate left turn awaits. It's also at Gate 10 where the Super Sector
begins, running through to Gate 18.
Cars will then pass through a snaking section which concludes with the biggest
jump of the course. While appearing tame, it features a sizable drop-off on
its landing. Another heavy braking zone is next, into a tight right hairpin
and a 90-degree left right after, before the climb to Gate 17 which offers
incredible views across the desert...
But the drivers won't be stopping to admire that. Instead they'll need to
perfectly manage that climb and drop, especially since there's another sequence
of sweeping left and right turns awaiting them.
Here is where the course divides again, with Extreme E looping right through
Gate 19 before the run to 20 and 21, with Extreme H taking a faster, more
direct approach.
At 21, drivers will be faced with a make-or-break choice: take the high line
on the steep banking to carry more speed into the subsequent 90-degree left,
but leaving you exposed, or cover that inside line, but at the expense of
potentially compromising your exit.
Regardless of what line they choose, there's one last overtaking chance with
a right kink onto a long start-finish straight to complete the lap. It's at
that right bend where the entrance to the Switch Zone is, too.
The course for Extreme E measures in at 3.127 km, with the more demanding
Extreme H version coming in at 3.021 km.
Head-to-Head
Unlike anything seen in Extreme E previously, the second day of Extreme H
action will involve head-to-head duels over a 532 metre-long course, which
begins with a drop down into an extended side-by-side run.
But this is no drag race; drivers will have to navigate a tight chicane before
the finish line, providing another pivotal moment in the race before its conclusion.
Racing kicks off at 8AM local time (KSA) tomorrow. For more information on
timings and broadcasters in your local territory, click here.
25-10-01 ACCIONA SAINZ returns
to Extreme E with QEV
ACCIONA SAINZ QEV XE TEAM, powered by Spanish electromobility specialists
QEV Technologies, has confirmed its return for the Final Lap of Extreme E
this October, with Jamaican star Fraser McConnell and motorsport legend Laia
Sanz continuing their successful driver partnership.
Founded by two-time World Rally Champion and four-time Dakar winner Carlos
Sainz, ACCIONA SAINZ XE TEAM has been a frontrunner in Extreme E since day
one, achieving three round victories and multiple podiums. Last season, McConnell
and Sanz secured three podiums from four starts, including a win at the Desert
X Prix in Saudi Arabia.
QEV Technologies, a global leader in sustainable mobility and technical partner
of the team, has been instrumental in its success. For over 20 years, QEV
has delivered race-winning electric drivetrains across Formula E, FIA RX2e,
and Americas Nitrocross series, and remains a pioneer in alternative
mobility solutions.
It has also been in Extreme E since day one. As technical partner to the ACCIONA
SAINZ QEV XE TEAM founded by two-time World Rally Champion and four-time
Dakar Rally winner Carlos Sainz it has overseen three round victories,
making it one of the most successful teams in the series' history.
ACCIONA SAINZ QEV XE TEAM, with McConnell and Sainz had a fantastic final
season in Extreme E, taking three podiums from four starts, including a win
at the second Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia.They will once again take to the
starting line for Extreme Es Final Lap.
Jamaica's top motorsport star McConnell, who drove for the QEV-led Acciona
Sainz team in 2024, is among Extreme E's most successful drivers with three
event victories to his name.
He won his first overseas championship title in 2019, taking the ARX2 crown,
and made history in 2021 by becoming the first Jamaican to win a Rallycross
Supercar race when he defeated Johan Kristoffersson at the RallyX Nordic round
at Nysum in Denmark. More recently McConnell has won four times in Nitrocross'
premier 'Group E' class.
Fraser McConnell, driver for ACCIONA SAINZ QEV XE TEAM, said: Having
the opportunity to continue with the ACCIONA SAINZ QEV XE TEAM is a huge honor.
From the very first day, I knew we could achieve great results. Weve
built a strong relationship and Im confident we can continue our podium
streak in this special farewell to Extreme E.
Perhaps best known for her exploits on two wheels, Sanz was an unstoppable
force in Trials riding, winning the international Trial World Championship
13 times between 2000-2013. She's also been a regular presence at the Dakar
Rally, and in 2015 achieved her best finish and the best for a female
on two wheels when she took ninth place.
In the 2010s, Sanz transitioned to four wheels, racing in the 24H Series at
the 24 Hours of Barcelona. She has also appeared in the SEAT Leon Eurocup,
and has competed in the top car class at Dakar since 2022, achieving a best
finish of 15th in last year's edition of the event.
In Extreme E she has been a constant presence since day one, firstly partnering
ACCIONA SAINZ XE TEAM founder Carlos Sainz, then Mattias Ekstrom, before teaming
up with McConnell for the first time last year.
Laia Sanz, driver for ACCIONA SAINZ QEV XE TEAM, said: "Im really
happy to be back with the ACCIONA SAINZ QEV XE TEAM alongside Fraser. We finished
last season with great momentum and the goal is clear: fight at the front
and close Extreme E on a high"
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E and Extreme H, said: Carlos
Sainz is a true giant of motorsport, and his team has been part of Extreme
Es DNA since the very beginning. With Fraser McConnell and Laia Sanz,
ACCIONA SAINZ QEV XE TEAM has delivered incredible performances season after
season, proving what can be achieved when world-class talent meets technical
innovation.
To have this team back for the Final Lap feels like the perfect way
to honour the journey of Extreme E. It is a fitting closing chapter for one
of the series most iconic teams, and a powerful bridge into the next
era with Extreme H.
Extreme Es Final Lap will run on 4 to 5 October 2025 in Qiddiya City,
Saudi Arabia, before the worlds first hydrogen racing championship,
Extreme H, kicks off the following weekend.
Qiddiya City is the worlds first city built entirely for play, where
entertainment, sport, and culture converge. The race will take place with
the dramatic backdrop of the Tuwaiq Mountains, close to the site which is
currently undergoing transformation to become a world-leading motorsport venue.
25-09-30 Hansen Brothers Podcast:
Q&A with Catie Munnings and Andreas Bakkerud
In the most recent episode of the Hansen Brothers Podcast, Kevin
and Timmy Hansen welcome two big names to Hansen Motorsport: Catie Munnings
and Andreas Bakkerud. The pair have been announced as Team Hansens drivers
for both Extreme E and the upcoming FIA Extreme H World Cup in Qiddiya, Saudi
Arabia.
Watch the full episode here or tune in on your favourite podcast platform!
Q: Catie, weve worked together a lot in the past. Are you excited to
officially join Team Hansen?
Catie Munnings: "I feel like Ive gone through the academy with
YellowSquad in rallycross - its such a small world. To now be starting
an Extreme E and Extreme H team is really exciting. But also, to be a part
of it, I think Id have been offended if youd have taken anyone
else to be honest with you. As you say, Im the third sibling."
Q: Andreas, given our history as rivals, why are you joining Hansen Motorsport
now?
Andreas Bakkerud: "Its a very good question, and its a question
everyone is kind of asking me. There is a big history here
But at the
same time, were not racing rallycross this time, we are racing Extreme
E and Extreme H. Hansen Motorsport has been in the game for a long time, been
very successful, and its a top team, so I think we can achieve some
good results together."
Q: Timmy, youre stepping into a new role as Team Principal for Extreme
H. How does that feel?
Timmy Hansen: "Once I realised the clash was with E1, I didnt want
to let Team Brazil down again, so I knew I couldnt drive. But then things
came together, and we could have our own team.
"I still love racing, so I wanted to be part of it somehow. Working on
the team, getting Catie and Andreas as drivers, has all been super exciting.
As a driver, you usually only affect results in those five to seven minutes
behind the wheel. But as Team Principal, the way I can influence the result
is by doing a really good job now - finding the right staff, engineers, mechanics,
building a team from nothing. Its been cool, and Ill join you
guys for the second week when you start driving the Extreme H car. Then Ill
be bothering you the whole time."
Q: Kevin, youre not racing for a Hansen team. Are you still involved
but in a different way?
Kevin Hansen: "Ive been very much part of putting this together
- working with Andreas, with the series, with partners to make everything
happen. I love this team, and its hard not being part of it on track,
but Ill root for you guys."
Andreas Bakkerud and Catie Munnings on joining Team Hansen
Q: What do you expect from the Extreme H car compared to Extreme E?
Catie Munnings: "The cars pretty similar, but you sit in the centre
which takes getting used to. The geometry and suspension are a bit different,
and braking will be key. The biggest challenge will be adapting throughout
the week with new sporting formats and racing in 40-degree heat."
Andreas Bakkerud: "I didnt do much testing before in Extreme E,
so its going to be cool to hear from you guys about the approach. Ive
heard the Extreme H car is heavier, slower, but with better suspension. Thats
going to be interesting."
Q: What will be the biggest challenge in Saudi Arabia?
Catie Munnings: "Track walk will probably be one of the hardest days.
Obviously having the new formats, we dont really know how the racing
will look. Theres going to be a lot of cars out on track at once. Its
going to be about not picking up penalties and not doing stupid stuff and
trying to get some results."
Andreas Bakkerud: "Its going be interesting for me as well
I didnt do that many laps in Extreme E before, so I've got some things
to learn before we start racing - both the Extreme E car but also the H car,
because I obviously didnt test that car yet."
Q: How are you preparing for the conditions?
Catie Munnings: "Ive actually been doing some heat training. Sauna
work, hot baths - uncomfortably hot baths and just sitting in it for a long
time. General fitness will be a big thing. Neck strength, back strength...
I think that will be a massive factor."
Andreas Bakkerud: "Panic training! I was out for a run today because
I havent had the time to do a lot of exercise this year. Im going
to use this time here in Spain to just get used to the heat. Catie texted
me last night being like, I hope you have a cooling vest. Bring 10 of
it!"
Q: And what are your expectations for these race weeks?
Catie Munnings: "Its about being ahead of the game. If you can
be a team thats proactive rather than reactive, thats where success
comes in the early stages of something new. Im happy that Timmys
leading the team because hes got such a good eye for competition."
Andreas Bakkerud: "When I put my name on the entry list, Im there
to win. But the reality is, Extreme E hasnt always been my best feeling.
This year though, Ive found joy again in racing, so Ill bring
that momentum with me. Its going to be tough, but Im excited."
Q: A final word from Team Hansen?
Timmy Hansen: "We wouldnt be working with you unless we had massive
respect for you, Andreas. We believe youre the best driver out there
to go and win. And Catie, you were one of the quickest in Extreme E, especially
at the last Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia. Together, youll have a fantastic
chance of pulling off the win."
25-09-30 Dubbelt upp för
KMS i Extreme E/H
Kristoffersson Motorsport dubblar sitt deltagande i Extreme E/H. Ole Christian
Veiby och Hedda Hosås kommer att kampera ihop i Team KMS Even.
- Det blir en bra kombination. Hedda har kört de här bilarna förut
och jag har min rallyerfarenhet, säger Ole Christian.
En helnorsk förarbesättning alltså, med ett svenskt team bakom
sig, rutinerade KMS, som redan har presenterat Team KMS med svenska duon Johan
Kristoffersson och Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky. Men det stannar alltså
inte där. Det kreativa teamet från Arvika dubblar sina chanser
i avslutningen av Extreme E och - framför allt - lanseringen av Extreme
H.
- Jag är verkligen stolt att få vara en del av Team KMS Even. Målet
är att fightas om topplaceringar, men också att lära mig så
mycket som möjligt under en fantastisk tid med KMS-teamet, säger
Hedda Hosås.
Hosås har erfarenhet från Extreme E sedan tidigare och är
dessutom en av få förare som har känt på Extreme H-bilarna.
- Det var viktigt för oss att få med Hedda som har kört i
mästerskapet tidigare, tävlat i en del annan off-road och dessutom
har testat de nya vätgasbilarna, säger teamchefen i KMS, Nils Andersson.
- Det är spännande att vara en del av någonting som pekar
ut framtiden för motorsport. Jag har varit en del av testprogrammet ända
sedan starten så jag är verkligen förväntansfull, säger
Hedda.
För Ole Christian Veiby blir det däremot debut inom off-road.
- Det är kul med något nytt. Jag hoppar in i vad som helst som
ger en möjlighet att tävla. Jag tror också att det här
kommer att passa mig bra med min bakgrund inom rally. Det kan inte vara så
svårt.
Ett moment inom Extreme är förarbytet, men inte heller det får
Veiby att darra.
- Förarbyte har jag varit med om när vi kört Porsche i 12-timmars
och det har ju också hänt i något rally att man fått
punktering och snabbt måste ut och byta hjul. Det ska inte bli något
problem med det, säger Veiby.
Och ett inspel om Ole Christians förutsättningar att lyckas inom
off-road kommer från KMS-kamraten - och i det här fallet konkurrenten
- Johan Kristoffersson.
- Jag tror att det här passar honom utmärkt. Det har jag sagt ända
sedan 2021 när jag började köra Extreme E. Det är bra
att han får chansen att visa det nu. Dessutom har Ole Christian varit
riktigt på hugget på senaste tiden, säger Kristoffersson
och får medhåll från teamets VD, Tommy Kristoffersson.
- Ser fram emot att se vad OC kan prestera i den här disciplinen. Han
har en gedigen rallybakgrund toppad med både banracing och rallycross.
Det är få, om ens någon, i världen med samma erfarenhet
som honom i samma ålder.
För Kristoffersson Motorsport är det dubbla deltagandet i kommande
två veckors tävlingar i Saudiarabien ett riktigt statement.
- Rallycross är fortfarande vårt huvudmål, men vi vill sondera
terrängen ifall det inte blir något mer där. Och när
det nu står en VM-titel på spel vill vi vara med och kämpa
om den, säger Tommy Kristoffersson.
25-09-29 KMS vidgar sina vyer
- kör off-road
En avskedsföreställning för Extreme E och premiär för
Extreme H i Saudiarabien. Det är vad som väntar när Kristoffersson
Motorsport vidgar sina vyer och ger sig in i terrängbilsleken. Det blir
också återförening mellan Johan Kristoffersson och Mikaela
Åhlin-Kottulinsky.
- Det ska bli väldigt kul att tävla med Mikaela igen. Det var länge
sen nu, säger Kristoffersson.
Kristoffersson och Åhlin-Kottulinsky vann Extreme E-serien 2023, tävlande
för Rosberg X Racing. RXR finns inte längre och när nu den
avbrutna säsongen för 2024 ska gå i mål tävlar
den svenska duon som Team KMS för Kristoffersson Motorsport, som gör
debut i den här typen av motorsport.
Kommande helg körs den sista ronden i elbilsserien Extreme E i Qiddiya
City. För Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky blir det både nytt och
bekant.
- Spännande att sätta sig i Extreme E-bilen och tävla med Johan
igen. Dessutom kul att göra det här med Kristoffersson Motorsport.
Jag har ju ändå tävlat med KMS tidigare i form av Team E och
sen också vid VM-finalen i rallycross i Hongkong 2023. Härligt
att få träffa det gänget igen, säger Åhlin-Kottulinsky.
Världens mest framgångsrika rallycrossteam bryter alltså
ny mark.
- En ny utmaning är alltid stimulerande. Vi är vana att hantera
nya situationer och har ett kvalificerat gäng för att klara av det.
Vi vill vara med där det händer, för att se om det öppnar
nya dörrar för framtiden, säger teamchefen Nils Andersson och
får medhåll från teamets VD Tommy Kristoffersson:
- Vi sonderar terrängen eftersom vi inte vet hur statusen på rallycross
ser ut inför nästa år, även om RX fortfarande är
vårt huvudmål. Off-road kan vara något som passar oss med
den personal vi har och förarbesättningen med Johan och Ole Christian,
säger Tommy och fortsätter:
- Vi är vana att komma väl förberedda till våra tävlingar.
Det har vi inte möjlighet till den här gången, men det är
å andra sidan nytt för alla team och jag vet att vi brukar vara
bra på att göra snabba omställningar, vilket kan vara en liten
fördel för oss nu när ännu en VM-titel står på
spel.
Den titeln ställs upp på piedestalen när Extreme E har gått
i mål. Då väntar nämligen några dagars förberedelser
inför World Cup i Extreme H, premiären för efterträdaren,
där bilarna drivs med vätgas.
- Det är World Cup-titeln som lockar allra mest under den här resan.
Jag har bara sett Extreme H-bilarna en gång, i Skottland, men vet inget
om hur de är att köra. Men jag tror det kan bli bra. De är
nog inte så annorlunda jämfört med Extreme E-bilarna, säger
Johan Kristoffersson, som därvidlag är i samma läge som teamkamraten:
- Spännande att testa nya bilen. Jag har bara hört talas om den.
Det kommer bli intensiva testdagar med att försöka förstå
sig på körsättet så att man blir snabb. Klart att man
alltid ger sig in i en tävling och vill vinna, men det är också
ett otroligt tufft startfält. Vi får försöka att få
ut så mycket info som möjligt på så kort tid som möjligt
och göra bra ifrån oss, säger Mikaela.
Extreme H körs torsdag-lördag under andra tävlingsveckan och
här gäller ett delvis nytt koncept, jämfört med E.
- Det blir några olika segment, en specialsträcka typ som i rally,
en head-to-head mellan teamen och sist ett multicar-race, som i rallycross,
liknande som det har varit tidigare i Extreme E, berättar Nils Andersson,
som intar sin vanliga roll som teamchef, men i ett nytt sammanhang och en
ny miljö - med mycket sand.
- Jag har googlat platsen vi ska köra på. Jag fick zooma ut väldigt
mycket för att hitta något annat än sand
25-09-23 Hansen Motorsport
enters FIA Extreme H World Cup with Andreas Bakkerud and Catie Munnings
Swedish squad enters Extreme E's Final Lap and the FIA Extreme H World Cup
Carbon-neutral rallycross team to expand sustainability efforts at inaugural
hydrogen-powered motorsport event
Timmy Hansen takes on a new role of Team Principal
Rallycross rival Andreas Bakkerud joins Team Hansen alongside Catie Munnings
Hansen Motorsport today (23 September) confirms its participation in Extreme
Es Final Lap and the inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup, as the family-run
outfit enters a new chapter in its motorsport journey.
Led by 14-time European Rallycross Champion Kenneth Hansen, the team has been
a dominant force in rallycross, winning more top-level championships than
any of its rivals. Hansen Motorsport now expands its focus from electric racing
in the FIA World Rallycross Championship to hydrogen-powered motorsport.
Entering as Team Hansen, the squad will be under the stewardship
of 2019 World RX Champion Timmy Hansen. Formerly an Extreme E driver with
Andretti United, the Swede is stepping away from the drivers seat due
to a prior commitment with Team Brazil in the E1 Series.
As one of a few drivers to have raced in every X Prix to-date, Hansen approaches
the new hydrogen era in the new role of Team Principal, bringing a deep understanding
of the perspective of his drivers.
Timmy Hansen, Team Hansen Team Principal, said: "Its a special
moment for me to step into the role of Team Principal for Team Hansen. For
us motorsport has always been a family effort, and to now take on a new role
after everything Ive learned from my mum Susann and my dad Kenneth feels
like an exciting challenge.
"Im super happy to have Andreas Bakkerud and Catie Munnings as
our drivers. Catie and I have built a great dynamic as team-mates over the
years, and with Andreas I have shared so many battles and memories, and I
know first-hand how hard he is to beat. The respect and trust that comes with
the history we all have will be a huge strength as we take on this new challenge
in Extreme H. I hope we can give them a great car so that they feel confident
to drive fast."
Andreas Bakkerud holds one of rallycross most decorated résumés,
which includes European Super1600 titles, a 2021 supercar championship, and
a fierce rivalry with Timmy. This peaked in 2019 when both finished equal
on points for the World RX title, but that season forged a mutual respect
which now transforms into partnership.
Bakkerud has also raced in Extreme E with JBXE, and the Norwegians presence
in the team strengthens the Hansens roster for its next chapter in sustainable
motorsport.
Andreas Bakkerud, Team Hansen driver, said: "I dont think anyone
saw this coming - even Im still in shock! From fighting each other for
world titles over the years, and going head-to-head in one of the biggest
rivalries in rallycross, to suddenly working together? Thats a big thing
to say the least.
"It goes even deeper than joining Team Hansen, because Timmy [Hansen]
is going to be my Team Principal. It can go both ways, but Im also keen
to learn from the team and understand them. We have taken this opportunity
to fight for a title together, and Im going to put everything into doing
my job next to Catie [Munnings] while racing for the Hansens. Im not
sure Ill ever get used to saying that!"
Catie Munnings has been a fixture in Extreme E since its inception. Partnered
with Timmy at Andretti United, she made history by winning the Arctic X Prix
in Greenland and went on to collect a further eight podiums. More recently,
the Brit has impressed in the E1 Series, taking multiple podiums across two
seasons.
As the squad embarks on new challenges in Extreme H, Caties racing experience
and passion for sustainability and equality will be crucial to the teams
success.
Catie Munnings, Team Hansen driver, said: "Im very excited to be
joining Team Hansen. Theyve been like a family to me for years and some
of my best mentors in motorsport, so to now be racing for them is like a full
circle moment.
"I know that every team member, from the mechanics to the spotters to
the media team, is the best in the business, and I have full trust that we
will be able to perform at our very best with the team around us. Working
with Timmy [Hansen] as Team Principal will be new, but he knows the sport
like no other and will lead us to our full potential. Im very excited
to be paired up with the crazy Andreas - Im sure we will have a lot
of fun together!"
As a proud member of the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action initiative and Hydrogen
Sweden, joining the first international motorsport powered entirely by hydrogen
represents a natural evolution for Hansen Motorsport.
The Swedish team became the first in rallycross to reach carbon neutral status
in 2022 and continues to hold FIA 3-star Environmental Accreditation and ISO
14001 certification. The move to Extreme H further reflects a philosophy of
pushing boundaries while committing to a more sustainable future.
25-09-05 Extreme E To Return
for Celebratory Final Lap
Extreme E, the revolutionary electric off-road racing series, has announced
it will return for one final time, in one month, on October 4 and 5th, marking
the culmination of a series that has helped expand the possibilities for how
motorsport can engage with environmental progress and innovation.
Since its launch in 2021, Extreme E has introduced electric racing to remote,
challenging terrains, aiming to highlight the impact of climate change while
championing new technologies and approaches to sustainability. Saudi Arabia,
through the Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), under the umbrella of the Ministry
of Sport and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, has been part
of that journey from the very beginning, hosting the series first Desert
X Prix and continuing to support its mission for five seasons.
Now, the series prepares for its Final Lap, a final outing that not only honours
its roots but also sets the stage for the launch of Extreme H, the worlds
first hydrogen-powered off-road racing championship. The Final Lap will be
an opportunity to celebrate everything Extreme E has achieved, at the same
time setting the next frontier for Extreme H, reinforcing Saudi Arabias
ambition to be the hub for innovative, world-class motorsport and a leader
in shaping a sustainable future.
This transition reflects Extreme Es vision to use sport as a platform
for innovation, awareness, and action. While the cars and energy sources may
evolve, the commitment to purposeful racing remains unchanged.
Further details on the event schedule, teams, and drivers will be shared in
the coming weeks.
25-06-06 Its a
proper race car! Extreme H Completes Final Test
Extreme H has completed its final testing on its new hydrogen-powered race
car, the Pioneer 25, in Fontjoncouse, the south of France.
The session focused on fine-tuning performance, testing technical components,
and evaluating the vehicles latest tyre developments, all critical enhancements
designed to handle the series unique and demanding race environments.
Former Extreme E Champion, and E.ON Next Veloce Racing driver, Molly Taylor,
became the latest driver to get behind the wheel of the Pioneer 25. Offering
her insights on the vehicles evolution, Taylor said: It was really
cool! The cars got a lot more potential to be pushed further. Its
instantly very confidence inspiring.
The suspension has a lot more scope, especially in the tough conditions,
as where we are testing the car it is really rough. You feel like you can
lean on it a lot more in those areas and the car will take a lot more [than
the Extreme E car]. Its also a very different experience the first time
you jump in. I was amazed how quickly that sitting in the middle of the car
felt at home.
On the noticeable difference of driving a hydrogen car, Molly says: It
was really interesting when they started the hydrogen up and you see all this
steam coming out of the exhaust. Normally if my car at home has steam coming
out, things are going really bad, but it was really cool in a way, makes you
realise you are driving something thats very different. Its been
nice to be able to show what we can do with technology and what we can do
with motorsport and to be part of that future development.
Asked for thoughts on the new Extreme H championship, Molly added: I
feel quite impatient, we just want it to happen now. Its been so cool
to see all the development and all the work thats gone into making this
project happen. Its a pretty ambitious thing to put together and its
been really exciting to finally be able to test the car that Ive seen
so much of and really see its potential.
The Pioneer 25 represents the pinnacle of hydrogen-powered racing innovation.
Equipped with cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cells, powered by green hydrogen
gas, the cars emit only water vapour, which can either be consumed or used
elsewhere on site for crucial aspects such as car washing.
The vehicles peak 400kw (550hp) output is capable of firing the 2200
kilogram, 2.4 metre-wide race car from 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds and scale gradients
of up to 130 per cent to help it tackle the toughest terrains with precision
and speed.
Swedish driver Kevin Hansen, Mollys team mate at E.ON Next Veloce Racing
in Extreme E, returned to Fontjoncouse to get his second test of the car,
saying: Its really nice to be back, just remembering everything
from a couple of months ago, The Pioneer 25 a really good development from
the Extreme E car. Its more robust, its a proper race car.
On the testing process, Kevin says: We are making progress, trialling
different things and trying to make the car the best it can be. It feels much
better than the previous car. Its in a strong shape and once we get
to racing, when we get to optimise for top performance, it will be really
interesting to see what more we can squeeze out of the final product.
Summing up, Kevin says: It feels great to be in the final stages of
getting back on track. Im looking forward to seeing all the cars lining
up together and I hope that myself and whoever joins me as my team mate will
be up there on top of the first podium!
Leading the testing programme was Extreme H s Technical Director, Mark
Grain, who summarised the test, saying: All opportunities to test a
new vehicle are valuable and this latest test has proved especially so.
The tyres we have been testing here this week are a big step forward
in performance from our last test, and have received great driver feedback.
Weve also been performing some endurance tests with a lot of the components
and fine tuning of the hydrogen fuel cell so that we are ready to go racing
later this year. Now that we understand a lot more about the types of racing
that we want to achieve at the World Cup, weve also been able to simulate
a lot of those conditions and finetune the car around those formats.
On the value of driver feedback, Mark adds: It's been fantastic having
Molly and Kevin join us. With such a wealth of experience from Extreme E and
the last car, along with the different types of racing theyve been involved
in, it all pulls together nicely. For them to come and experience the Extreme
H car and advance that development path for us again has been really appreciated.
The Pioneer 25 hydrogen race car is designed and manufactured by Spark Racing
Technology and has undergone an intensive testing programme equivalent to
more than three seasons of Extreme E racing in readiness for its debut campaign.
Each car comprises of a common package of standardised parts, the open areas
for teams are the hydrogen fuel cell, which gives a crucial opportunity to
test out this technology, plus the ability to style bodywork elements in order
to replicate the look of everyday car models.
The Pioneer 25, the worlds first hydrogen-powered off-road race car
built for the FIA Extreme H World Cup will make its competitive debut later
this year, with news coming very soon on host location and dates.
25-05-22 Extreme H Tests Pioneering
New Hydrogen Event Power Solution
Extreme H, the worlds first hydrogen racing championship, marked its
latest major technical milestone today, with the successful first test of
its groundbreaking new hydrogen power solution which has five times the power
capability of the previously used Extreme E system.
The test, which took place at Siemens Energys UK facility in Newcastle,
centred around the next-generation Hydrogen Power Unit (HPU2), developed by
GeoPura, and included system integration with the series long-term sustainable
power supplier, Power Logistics.
Andy Welch, Extreme Hs Global Hydrogen Development Manager, said: Extreme
H will be famous for its hydrogen fuel cell racing cars, but they are only
half of the story as we are also trialling hydrogen technologies across the
whole event site in an effort to become the first sport to run entirely on
zero emission hydrogen.
We are immensely proud to be working alongside clean power pioneers
GeoPura and Power Logistics as we continue to scale our capabilities and showcase
hydrogens potential.
Witnessing the successful test of GeoPuras HPU2 hydrogen fuel
cell prototype today marks a major step forward, not just for our series,
but for the broader live events industry. Extreme H is an important global
test bed for real-world hydrogen solutions, proving whats possible and
accelerating the transition toward cleaner, more sustainable events worldwide.
With a more compact footprint than its HPU1 predecessor, reduced weight, and
significantly higher power density, the HPU2 delivers scalable, quiet, zero-emission
power - up to 50 MW when deployed at scale. Each unit generates 500 kW of
clean electricity, five times the prime output of HPU1. Operated continuously
over 24 hours, a single HPU2 could provide enough energy to power the equivalent
of 1,200 average UK homes for a day.
With these advancements reducing deployment costs, zero-emission energy systems
are becoming increasingly accessible not only across motorsport but also for
other energy-intensive and time-sensitive applications such as music festivals,
remote broadcast centres, and construction sites.
A defining feature of the HPU2 systems environmental performance is
its exclusive use of green hydrogen, which will be supplied by the championships
Green Hydrogen Partner, ENOWA. Green hydrogen is produced using exclusively
renewable energy sources, ensuring zero emissions not only during use, but
also throughout the production process. This enables Extreme Hs ambition
to set a new benchmark by powering their races, with power needs including
live broadcast, race control and operations, team garages, catering and more,
with fully emission-free power, whilst supporting ENOWAs mission to
accelerate hydrogens role in the global energy transition.
By utilising the system in a live event environment, Extreme H is not only
preparing for the future of zero-emission racing but also laying the groundwork
for the broader industrial adoption of green hydrogen technologies.
The collaboration between GeoPura and Power Logistics, strengthened through
this initiative, highlights the importance of technical partnerships in delivering
real-world energy transitions that are set to transform wider industries,
including live sporting and music events, remote broadcast, construction and
many more. The only emission from the HPU2 system is water.
Compared to its predecessor, the HPU1, which had an integrated battery system,
the HPU2 introduces a modular configuration with an external battery.
This new setup enables greater flexibility, allowing the system to operate
either as a standalone generator or in a hybrid format with supplementary
battery support. The battery and distribution technology is key to this adaptability,
ensuring that the system can meet diverse energy demands across complex environments.
Theo Elmer, GeoPuras Chief Technical Officer, said: HPU2 represents
a major leap forward in clean, scalable power. Its lighter, more powerful,
and more flexible than anything weve built before - designed specifically
to deliver in high-demand, high-performance environments like Extreme H. Were
proud to be working closely with Power Logistics and Extreme H to show whats
possible with hydrogen technology. Together, were proving that zero-emission
power can meet the demands of live motorsport and beyond and helping accelerate
the wider transition away from fossil fuels.
Extreme H will provide a valuable proving ground for both GeoPura and Power
Logistics, providing performance and operational insights that will guide
deployments across industries seeking to reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-based
generators, without compromising on reliability or output.
The upgraded battery, created by Greener Power Solutions, fits Power Logistics
specification and design recommendation and provides significantly upgraded
features to further enable the use of the GeoPura fuel cell system. This includes
dealing with increased fluctuating and sustained higher loads, multi-battery
synchronisation and the ability to work with larger sources of renewable energy
generation. This is crucial given the power plan which also involves greater
quantities of solar deployment.
Craig Hardeman, Power Logistics Innovation and Sustainability Development
Manager, said: Were incredibly proud of our constantly evolving
relationship with Extreme H, having been involved with Extreme E from the
outset.
Weve come a long way from the initial design and implementation
of a bespoke Energy Management Solution that incorporated an electrical package
built specifically to its power requirements whilst achieving its sustainability
goals. By effectively gathering and analysing data and incorporating new technologies
such as solar and hydrogen power weve been able to make energy and carbon
emission savings race on race. Were excited to be involved in the next
chapter.
Extreme H is proud to be a test bed for innovation and validate a new standard
in event power for solutions that extend far beyond the racetrack, driving
progress for global decarbonisation efforts through innovation, integration
and action. This collaboration stands to highlight how motorsport can drive
meaningful progress in sustainable energy innovation.
25-01-09 Extreme H Race Cars
Ready for Action
The FIA Extreme H World Cup, the worlds first hydrogen-powered off-road
motorsport, marked a major milestone today as Spark Racing Technology completed
production of its fleet of ten Pioneer25 race cars.
The Pioneer 25, built to meet the FIAs rigorous safety and performance
standards, represents the pinnacle of hydrogen-powered racing innovation.
Equipped with cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cells, the cars emit only water vapour,
highlighting the series unwavering commitment to sustainability. The
vehicles feature a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, delivering up to 400kW
(550hp) of power, and are capable of tackling the toughest terrains with precision
and speed.
Alejandro Agag, CEO of Extreme H, visited Spark Racing Technology HQ on the
outskirts of Paris, France, to witness the production firsthand. He commented:
The production of our ten car race fleet marks a major milestone as
we move closer to the launch of the FIA Extreme H World Cup. These cars are
not just groundbreaking in terms of technology; they represent the future
of sustainable motorsport, and we are ready to go.
Nicolas Wertans, Chairman of Spark Racing Technology, added: Spark Racing
Technology is incredibly honoured to deliver the Pioneer 25 race cars for
the FIA Extreme H World Cup. This project has pushed the boundaries of hydrogen
technology in motorsport, combining advanced engineering with sustainable
innovation. We believe these vehicles will set a new standard for hydrogen-powered
competition and inspire the future of clean energy solutions.
The car is designed and manufactured by Spark Racing Technology and equipped
with a hydrogen fuel cell from Symbio, and has undergone an intensive testing
program equivalent to three seasons of racing in readiness for its debut campaign.
Symbio has provided a 75kW hydrogen fuel cell replacing the battery as the
principal energy source. The hydrogen fuel cell powers the battery pack that
is produced and supported trackside by Fortescue ZERO. Hydrogen fuel cells
represent a technological revolution that is now becoming a widespread reality,
with this technology already being used behind the scenes in Extreme E, where
it provides the energy source to the vehicles batteries.
The Pioneer 25s peak 400kw (550hp) output is capable of firing the 2200
kilogram, 2.4 metre-wide race car from 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds and scale gradients
of up to 130 per cent.
Each Pioneer 25 raced in Extreme H comprises a common package of standardised
parts from Spark Racing Technology. The open areas for teams is the hydrogen
fuel cell, which gives a crucial opportunity to test out this technology,
plus the ability to style bodywork elements in order to replicate the look
of everyday car models.
Extreme H builds on the foundation of Extreme E, the electric off-road championship
that has pushed boundaries in performance, equality, and environmental awareness.
Extreme H, which will get started later in 2025, will continue this legacy
by demonstrating the viability of hydrogen as a clean energy solution while
delivering thrilling racing action.
With production now complete, the countdown to the FIA Extreme H World Cup
is officially underway fans around the world can anticipate a groundbreaking
series that combines cutting-edge technology, sustainable innovation, and
high-adrenaline competition. Further details on the competition will be announced
over coming months.