QIDDIYA CITY: Jameel Motorsport’s Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor were on Sunday crowned champions of the first-ever FIA Extreme H World Cup.
The first hydrogen-powered motorsport competition sanctioned by the FIA, brought together eight international teams, all male-female driver pairings, for three days of racing featuring a new format which included Time Trials, Head-to-Head duels, and an eight-car final.
Racing against the backdrop of the Tuwaiq Mountains, the cars were powered entirely by hydrogen fuel cells, proving that zero-emission racing can deliver world-class performance.
After topping the standings through the early rounds, Hansen (SWE) and Taylor (AUS) dominated the final from pole position.
Hansen built a commanding lead in the opening laps before Taylor brought the car home for a decisive victory, finishing 7.068 seconds ahead of Carl Cox Motorsport, with Team EVEN completing the podium.
“To win the first-ever FIA Extreme H World Cup is probably the biggest achievement of my career,” said Hansen. “Standing on pole for a Saudi team, knowing winner takes all, it was huge pressure, but it feels incredible to make history.”
Teammate Taylor commented: “It’s been a pretty emotional day. It’s been such an intense week, particularly the last three days. It's pretty hard to describe. You have to be on it every step of the way.
“It feels very sweet to be able to deliver this, for Jameel Motorsport, for all our crew, we all banded together to make this happen.”
The FIA Extreme H World Cup is designed to demonstrate how hydrogen can play a major role in a sustainable, high-performance future, while also promoting gender equality — with every team fielding one male and one female driver competing on equal terms.
Across the three days, Team KMS took the first medal in the Time Trial, STARD triumphed in the Head-to-Heads, and Jameel Motorsport sealed the ultimate prize in the eight-car final.
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and Saudi Motorsport Co., said: “From the heart of Qiddiya City, we write today a new chapter in global motorsport.
“The launch of the FIA Extreme H World Cup marks a transformative milestone, showing how competition, innovation, and sustainability can move forward hand in hand.
“Let’s celebrate a new era: powered by hydrogen, driven by ambition, and built for the future.”
