The world’s first hydrogen-powered off-road race car, the Pioneer 25, has completed its final testing session in the south of France ahead of its race debut later this year.
The vehicle, developed for the new Extreme H championship, is built to run on green hydrogen and emits only water vapour, making it a big step forward in clean motorsport.
Testing the Limits in Rough Terrain
The latest test focused on performance improvements, tyre upgrades and fine-tuning key technical parts. The car has been through a testing program that equals over three seasons of Extreme E racing. Engineers used the rough terrain of Fontjoncouse to simulate the tough conditions expected in real races.
Molly Taylor, a former Extreme E champion and current E.ON Next Veloce Racing driver, was one of the drivers to test the new car.
“It was really cool! The car’s got a lot more potential to be pushed further,” Taylor said. “The suspension has a lot more scope, especially in the tough conditions… You feel like you can lean on it a lot more and the car will take it.”
“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.”
“A Proper Race Car”
Taylor’s teammate Kevin Hansen also returned to test the Pioneer 25 and found its progress impressive.
“It’s more robust, it’s a proper race car,” Hansen said. “It feels much better than the previous car. 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.”
Hansen said he’s excited for the upcoming races and hopes to stand on the top step of the podium.
“It feels great to be in the final stages of getting back on track. I’m looking forward to seeing all the cars lining up together.”
Designed for the Future of Racing
The Pioneer 25 features a powerful 400kW (550hp) hydrogen fuel cell system and can go from 0 to 100kph in just 4.5 seconds. Engineers built it to handle steep hills and the most extreme off-road conditions, giving it a weight of 2,200 kilograms and a width of 2.4 metres. The hydrogen fuel cell is the only major part teams can customise, along with body styling to reflect road car models.
Mark Grain, Technical Director of Extreme H, said this round of testing was vital.
“The tyres we have been testing here this week are a big step forward in performance… We’ve also been performing some endurance tests and fine tuning of the hydrogen fuel cell,” he said.
Grain praised the input from drivers Molly and Kevin.
“It’s been fantastic having Molly and Kevin join us… For them to come and experience the Extreme H car and advance that development path for us again has been really appreciated.”
First Race Coming Soon
Spark Racing Technology built the car and tested it to meet the demands of the new FIA Extreme H World Cup. Organisers expect the first race to take place later this year, with the location and dates to be announced soon.
As motorsport looks for cleaner, greener ways to race, the Pioneer 25 could be the start of a big change. The Extreme H series is powered by hydrogen technology at its core. Backed by experienced drivers and engineers, it’s ready to hit the track.
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