Is hydrogen-powered off-roading the future of rallying?

The Pioneer 25 has been crafted by Spark Racing Technology. It packs a 75 kW Symbio hydrogen fuel cell and a 325kW Fortescue Zero battery, feeding electric motors producing 544PS (400kW), which makes this 2,200kg, 2.4-meter-wide monster capable of 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, all the while tackling 130% gradients on brutal off-road tracks.

Fueled by hydrogen taken from renewable sources like solar and wind, it emits only water vapour and heat in the name of delivering zero-emission thrills. At FOS Future Lab, visitors had the opportunity to inspect the Pioneer 25’s FOX Suspension Live Valve Technology, which is capable of real-time damping, and the car’s safety system complete with polymer-lined fuel tanks.

Tested rigorously with off-road runs in France, the Pioneer 25 builds on three years of Extreme E data for unmatched performance. Its hydrogen fuel cell charges the battery, driving eMotors through a motor control unit (MCU), with a DC/DC converter managing the systems. This car isn’t just for racing — it’s a blueprint for sustainable mobility beyond the track.

Extreme H made a bold statement at the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, with the Pioneer 25 tackling the iconic 1.16-mile Hillclimb each day, showcasing its power and agility to thousands of spectators.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme H, said: "We’re incredibly proud to be returning to the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the most iconic and prestigious events in global motorsport. It was here in 2019 that we first previewed the Extreme E electric off-road championship, and now we’re back to debut the Pioneer 25 and welcome the next era with thrilling hydrogen racing. After a long-awaited return, we’re thrilled to finally show the public what’s coming next for Extreme H and the future of sustainable racing."

Four of the series’ drivers — Catie Munnings, Cristina Gutiérrez, Klara Andersson, and Amanda Sorensen — were in action on the Hill over the course of the event, tasked with demonstrating the capabilities of this new hydrogen-powered machine. The series has long championed female drivers, and since the first Extreme E event in 2021, the women have closed the speed gap with male drivers by 70 per cent.

Rally driver Munnings, who competed in all four seasons of Extreme E for the Andretti Altakwilat team, was the first to drive the car on the hillclimb on the opening day of the Festival of Speed. “It’s an honour to be the first driver announced to take on the iconic Goodwood hillclimb in the Extreme H Pioneer 25,” she said. “I’ve been part of this journey since the early days of Extreme E, so to now showcase the next generation of hydrogen-powered racing on such a legendary stage is really special.

“Goodwood is such a landmark event in the motorsport calendar, for both drivers and fans, and it’s the perfect platform to debut this cutting-edge technology. The Pioneer 25 is a huge step forward in performance and innovation, and I can’t wait to give people a glimpse of the future of sustainable racing."

Mark Grain, the Technical Director of Extreme H who has been behind the development of the Pioneer 25, said: “We’re looking forward to putting the Pioneer 25 to the test against some of the fastest and most advanced racing machines in the world as it takes on the iconic Goodwood Hill.

“But just as exciting is the chance to let the public quite literally lift the lid on the car in FOS Future Lab, where we’ll be breaking down the components and systems that make this one of the world’s only hydrogen-powered race vehicles. It’s a rare opportunity to explore the technology up close and see what makes Extreme H so unique.”

Extreme H, set to launch as an FIA Championship in 2025 and aiming for FIA World Championship status in 2026, is more than a race series — it’s a platform for sustainable innovation. By exclusively using green hydrogen, produced via electrolysis with renewable energy, Extreme H eliminates harmful emissions, aligning with global net-zero goals. 

The championship’s Hydrogen Hub, a collaboration with the FIA and Formula 1, evaluates hydrogen’s potential in motorsport and mobility, from fuel cells to infrastructure. This initiative underscores Extreme H’s ambition to revolutionise carbon-free mobility, with applications in heavy-duty transport and beyond.

It’s also distinct for its gender-equal format, which sees each car driven by both a male and female competitor. Furthermore, roughly half of the Extreme H workforce is female, from engineers to event managers, the goal is to inspire future generations to get involved in motorsport. 

The championship supports local communities in race locations and promotes STEM education, using its charismatic personalities to amplify the message. Gutiérrez, who races alongside Sebastien Loeb for Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team, balances her driving with her dentistry career. Andersson, a rallycross prodigy, made history as the first permanent female driver in World Rallycross. Munnings, a trailblazer for Red Bull, was Extreme E’s third-fastest driver in the 2024 Desert X Prix. Sorensen, a former figure skater turned Formula DRIFT star, won on her Extreme E debut in 2023. These are not your normal paths into motorsport, and Extreme H is busy proving anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

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Goodwood photography Jordan Butters, Rob Cooper and Toby Adamson.