Extreme E announces first hydrogen racing world championship

The hydrogen idea was initially mooted for 2024, but is thought to have been delayed due to the slow pace of development with the prototype.

“Establishing alongside the FIA a world-first hydrogen racing world championship will be a momentous milestone for Extreme E and the new Extreme H series. Eventual accreditation as an FIA Championship and then an FIA World Championship means we would be amongst the top tier of global motorsport categories, and Extreme H would be the first-ever world championship racing series of its kind.

“What started as a conversation many years ago about racing in extreme environments, showcasing the incredible performance and innovation of E-SUVs, has now demonstrated enormous growth and further pioneering technical advances as we move forward with the transition to hydrogen and Extreme H – a world-first.”

Though Agag has spoken openly this year about the proposed move to hydrogen, the initial idea came as a surprise for a series which is only in its third year and is still establishing its brand as an electric series.

However the series is heavily backed by Saudi Arabia, which is looking to transform its image from an oil nation to one which exports a diverse range of energy resources.

Speaking at Extreme E’s Scottish Hydro X-Prix event earlier this year, Agag conceded that finance played a part in the decision.

“For me to be able to tap into the sponsorship of all these companies that are betting on hydrogen is one of the reasons why we want to do it, because it has to be also business,” he said.

“I think with hydrogen we have a unique opportunity to offer a platform to all these sponsors that don’t have anywhere to go.

“If you’re the only platform, that’s interesting from the business point of view.”

There are thought to be mixed feelings in the Extreme E paddock about becoming a pure hydrogen championship – were Extreme E to be discontinued.

Former IndyCar champion and team boss Michael Andretti told Motor Sport “he would love” to be part of a hydrogen racing series while Nico Rosberg said he viewed the move as “the very positive” and that he was in talks with a manufacturer partnership as part of the change, but not all are so enthusiastic.

Some squads are participating in Extreme E on the basis of promoting electric power such as Cupra and Hummer, though the latter has produced a hydrogen concept the vehicle, the H2H – it is unclear where a move solely to hydrogen would leave them.

The only car manufacturers currently producing hydrogen-powered vehicles available to customers are Toyota and Hyundai.

The Australian XE team, the sporting arm of the BYD electric passenger vehicles company, was set to join Extreme E this season but is thought to have backed out when the hydrogen talks gathered pace.