FIA Extreme H World Cup returns to Saudi Arabia for second edition

The FIA Extreme H World Cup — the first FIA-sanctioned motorsport world championship powered by hydrogen — returns to Saudi Arabia this autumn for its second edition. Races take place from 29 to 31 October 2026 at Qiddiya City, on a purpose-built off-road circuit near the Tuwaiq Mountains. The FIA and organiser Extreme H confirmed the dates this week.

How the format works

Eight international teams compete across three racing formats over three days. On day one, drivers complete Time Trials to set the running order. Day two features Head-to-Head knock-out duels, with two cars racing directly against each other. On day three, the World Cup is decided in a final between the eight remaining cars. Every team fields one female and one male driver — a principle the FIA carries over from predecessor Extreme E. The inaugural event was won by Jameel Motorsport (Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor) by a margin of just 0.082 seconds in the final.

The Pioneer 25

All teams race the same car: the Pioneer 25, built by Spark Racing Technology — the same constructor behind Formula E and Extreme E. The drivetrain is hybrid: a 75 kW Symbio fuel cell provides steady power, while a 325 kW Fortescue Zero battery handles peaks for acceleration and jumps. Together they deliver up to 400 kW (around 540 hp) of peak power. The car goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, weighs 2,200 kilograms and can climb gradients of up to 130 per cent. The hydrogen tanks can be refilled in minutes — a key advantage over pure BEVs in a short off-road format.

What this means for hydrogen technology

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem described the championship as an important platform to test fuel cell technology in demanding conditions. That is more than PR: during the inaugural event in October 2025, nine Pioneer 25 cars — including the test vehicle — covered a combined 550 kilometres in tough desert conditions without a single failure. For a new drivetrain, that is an exceptional outcome. The event itself also runs on hydrogen for 80 per cent of its on-site operations (paddocks, broadcasting, logistics), putting the technology to the test across an entire event infrastructure, not just on the racing line.

Why this matters

For wider hydrogen mobility, this championship is interesting for two reasons. First, it shows that fuel cell technology can perform under extreme conditions — high power, heat, dust — that go far beyond everyday driving. What survives here will be hard to break in passenger cars, vans and heavy construction machinery. Second, this kind of visibility normalises hydrogen technology for a broad audience. Much as Formula E lifted the "too slow" stigma from electric cars, Extreme H can do the same for FCEV. Races are broadcast via 90 broadcasters in 180 markets. Saudi Arabia has a multi-year deal with Extreme H for Qiddiya, but Extreme H founder Alejandro Agag has indicated the championship intends to expand to more locations over time.

Sources:

• FIA: confirmation of second edition 29–31 October 2026 (May 2026)
• FIA: "Five game-changing lessons" — review of inaugural event
• Extreme H: Pioneer 25 announcement and technical specifications
• Wikipedia: Extreme H — series overview and entrants
• Sustainability Magazine, Energy Digital and Goodwood: additional coverage