Goodwood 2025: Extreme H hydrogen race car to make public debut at Festival of Speed
A new kind of race car will be lining up for this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed – powered not by petrol or batteries (sort of), but by hydrogen.
Extreme H will give its new fuel cell off-roader, the Pioneer 25, its first public outing at the iconic Hillclimb event this July, ahead of the series’ competitive debut later this year.
Hydrogen has made an appearance on the Goodwood Hill before – indeed Rowan Atkinson piloted a hydrogen-engined Toyota GR Yaris H2 back in 2023 – but the Pioneer 25 is the first time a hydrogen off-roader has entered the main competition.
Fuel cell off roader
The Pioneer 25 is built to replace the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 cars used in Extreme E, but instead of having to stop for a charge between stages, the Pioneer carries its own hydrogen electricity generator onboard to make its power.
This generator consists of a fuel cell ‘stack’ from Michelin-Stellantis venture, Symbio, that converts hydrogen gas into electricity on demand, powering twin electric motors for a peak combined output of 400 kW – or, in old money, about 550 bhp.
Hydrogen refuelling takes just minutes, with the team utilising a mobile dispenser developed by UK firm Fuel Cell Systems.
It’s still an EV under the skin, but with a different energy source and faster pit stops – something the team hopes will make it more versatile in remote, off-grid locations.
The battery comes from Fortescue ZERO, and the whole system – tank, stack, battery and all – sits inside an entirely new chassis designed by Formula E car-builders, Spark Racing Technology.
It builds on four seasons’ worth of Extreme E data but with upgrades throughout, including a new layout, suspension and crash structures. The only tailpipe emission is water vapour.
Hillclimb runs and tech teardown
The car will take on the full 1.16-mile Hillclimb each day of the Festival, with Catie Munnings opening the driving duties on Thursday.
She’ll be followed by fellow Extreme E alumni Cristina Gutiérrez and Klara Andersson across the weekend.
As in the race series itself, male and female drivers will share equal track time – part of Extreme H’s ongoing commitment to gender parity in motorsport.
Between runs, the Pioneer 25 will also appear in stripped-back form inside Goodwood’s Future Lab. Its composite bodywork will be removed to expose the hydrogen tanks, fuel cell system and electric drivetrain, offering a rare inside look at how a hydrogen race car is put together.
Boffins from the team will be on hand to explain how the system works – from refuelling and energy flow to race-day strategy.
Panel talks will also run throughout the weekend, covering the car’s development, the switch from battery-electric to hydrogen, and what’s in store for the championship when it launches later this year.
Back to where it all began
For series founder Alejandro Agag, the appearance at Goodwood will be something of a homecoming.
Extreme E first revealed its then electric prototype at the Festival of Speed back in 2019, and he described the return as “thrilling.”
Munnings called it “really special” to bring the next generation of zero-emission racing to such a legendary stage.
The full Extreme H championship is due to kick off later this year, with events expected in Saudi Arabia, Europe and North America.
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