“It’s a proper race car!”: Extreme H Completes Final Test
France, 6 June: 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 vehicle’s 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 vehicle’s evolution, Taylor said: “It was really cool! The car’s got a lot more potential to be pushed further. It’s 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]. It’s 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 that’s very different. It’s 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. It’s been so cool to see all the development and all the work that’s gone into making this project happen. It’s a pretty ambitious thing to put together and it’s been really exciting to finally be able to test the car that I’ve 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 vehicle’s 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, Molly’s team mate at E.ON Next Veloce Racing in Extreme E, returned to Fontjoncouse to get his second test of the car, saying: “It’s 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. It’s more robust, it’s 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. It’s 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. I’m 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. We’ve 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, we’ve 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 they’ve 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 world’s 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.
ENDS