‘Fantastic’ — Ben Sulayem welcomes FAI Extreme H World Cup debut

DUBAI: FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has said he is delighted Saudi Arabia will host the inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup in October, hailing it a pioneering development for sustainable racing.

The world’s first hydrogen-powered motor sport event will be staged in a specially designed off-road location at Qiddiya City from Oct. 9-11 and is the successor to the Extreme E series which ran from 2021-24.

Ben Sulayem said: “As motor sport continues to grow worldwide, it is fantastic to see the inaugural Extreme H World Cup being hosted in Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia. The hydrogen-powered event will use advanced technology to push the boundaries of sustainable racing, pioneering a new vision in a location which shares our commitment to a more sustainable and innovative future.”

The FIA, the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide, has signed a multi-year agreement with Extreme H to deliver the event. This reaffirms the shared commitment of both organizations to accelerate hydrogen innovation and set new standards for sustainable racing.

With coverage via 90 broadcasters worldwide, Extreme H is set to engage both traditional and next-generation fans with a focus on innovative technology, sustainability and gender equality.

It aims to test the boundaries of what can be achieved, building on Extreme E’s progression from using hydrogen fuel cells for car charging in the first season to powering 80 percent of event operations with hydrogen by its last event in the fourth.

Every team will field a male and female driver, making it the second international four-wheel motor sport event to do so after Extreme E. This reinforces both the FIA and Extreme H’s commitment to