Hydrogen shines in Chemnitz: the H2GP World Finals

September 04, 2025

By Lyra Coulthard, Writer

Hydrogen-powered model race cars compete on a tight technical track at the H2GP Finals. — Tight corners, clean lines and zero emissions — hydrogen racers battle it out lap after lap in the Chemnitz circuit showdown. (Image: H2GP)

From the 20^th to the 27^th of July 2025, Chemnitz saw a sudden influx of students with tiny cars and big dreams. It was time for this capital of culture to put on a show; it was time for the 2025 H2GP World Finals.

Representatives from a total of 21 countries flooded into the Kraftverkehr Chemnitz Hall, which was filled to the brim with fascinating hydrogen technology, at the very centre of which was the track where the new World Champions would be forged.

And thus the action began in a frantic flurry of competitive racing and design.

360 minutes of championship chasing thrills

The Hybrid race, as always, was one of the highlights of the week; its combination of hydrogen and a battery pack as power sources allows for a gruelling six-hour endurance race. But who can complete the most laps in these precious 360 minutes?

A student carefully places a red hydrogen-powered RC car on the track during the H2GP World Finals. — Ready, set, hydrogen — teams prepare to unleash their hand-built racers in one of the most competitive hybrid categories yet. (Image: H2GP)

The Americans’ Oakwood Green took an early lead, flying around the track, whilst the rest of the pack closed up, causing several cars to flip on the main straight. Marshals danced across the track, avoiding the 1:10 scale cars speeding past their feet and righting the stranded teams.

359 minutes in and Oakwood Green maintained their dominance, bringing the championship home in that final minute to much flag-waving and chants of the “Mean green machine”.

What’s a hydrostick?

Each team in the H2GP uses hydrosticks as their hydrogen fuel source. Compact, refillable metal cartridges that store hydrogen safely in a solid-state form using metal hydrides.

Designed for classroom and educational use, hydrosticks are pressurised to around 30 bar and can store roughly 10 litres of hydrogen gas, which the cars convert into electricity via a fuel cell.

At the Finals, teams are given 26 hydrosticks for the endurance race. Managing these limited refuelling resources becomes a key part of race strategy, balancing speed with energy efficiency, just like in full-scale motorsport.

Students watch hydrogen-powered RC cars race around a black indoor track at the 2025 H2GP World Finals in Chemnitz. — 21 nations, one hydrogen-powered racetrack — the Chemnitz crowd watches future engineers go head-to-head in the H2GP World Finals. (Image: H2GP)

A successful title defence

Oakwood Pink also won the hybrid category in 2022, 2023 and 2024, demonstrating that though the students making up the team may change, the team’s tendency towards victory does not.

Executive Director of the H2GP Programme Nicola Weiss spoke with Driving Hydrogen to reflect on the event. “Compared to previous years, Chemnitz 2025 was bigger, more international, and more connected to industry than ever before.”

“This year’s Finals mark a turning point, as we see students from around the globe not only racing but also presenting real solutions that mirror the challenges of industry.”

This year’s championship also witnessed the inaugural year of the Girls in STEM category, which was the closing race of the event.

Students from an all-girls team work on a bright pink hydrogen race car during the Girls in STEM event at H2GP 2025. — Precision meets power as a Girls in STEM team fine-tunes their pink hydrogen car before race time. (Image: H2GP)

Eleven teams took to the track, with both Stock and Hybrid cars racing simultaneously; there were two separate titles up for grabs! Oakwood Pink triumphed yet again in the hybrid category while Kingsley Kachow were the first stock car to reach the checkered flag.

Fuelling tomorrow

As the world’s largest hydrogen educational programme, the H2GP acts as a global pipeline for skills, training, and careers in hydrogen.

“In earlier years, the H2GP Finals were about proving that students could build and race hydrogen cars.” says Weiss but “In 2025, it’s about proving they can become the workforce of the future.

“Chemnitz 2025 shows the world that hydrogen education has scaled to a global movement, uniting students, educators, and industry leaders under one vision of sustainability.”

Race results:

	1^st place	2^nd place	3^rd place
Prototype	Summa Automotive Racing – 1,111 laps	Solomon – 897 laps	HyRaceA – 817 Laps
Stock	Cyber Speed – 1,174 laps	Pink Hawk – 1,134 laps	Faith and The Furious -1,116 laps
Hybrid	Oakwood Green – 1,459 laps	Ostrov – 1,402 laps	Mach 5 – 1,287 laps
Girls in STEM Stock	Kingsley Kachow – 352 laps	Faith and the Furious – 306 laps	Hydra Team – 271 laps
Girls in STEM Hybrid	Oakwood Pink – 351 laps	Las Stemateras – 264 laps

Winners of the Sprint category:

1^st – 2.9 seconds – Thunder

2^nd – 3.2 Seconds – Record Smasher

3^rd – 3.4 seconds – Those Who Know

Dozens of student teams and coaches pose together for a group photo at the 2025 H2GP World Finals in Chemnitz. — Smiles, medals and horsepower. The full H2GP 2025 roster gathers to celebrate a week of speed, strategy and sustainability. (Image: H2GP)

Looking ahead

As the hydrogen cars were packed away and the banners rolled up, Chemnitz returned to its usual pace, but the legacy of the 2025 H2GP Finals will echo far beyond the racetrack.

With record-breaking performances, global participation and a growing emphasis on real-world innovation, this year’s event proved that hydrogen is more than a fuel. It’s the future, and the next generation is already behind the wheel.