Pioneering hydrogen-powered motor race revs up Saudi desert

VIDEO SHOWS: FIA EXTREME H WORLD CUP DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS SHOWS: QIDDIYA CITY, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 9, 2025) (EXTREME H – See restrictions) 1. FIRST PLACE TEAM KMS' MIKAELA AHLIN-KOTTULINSKY (SWEDEN) IN ACTION DURING TIME TRIAL 2. ONBOARD WITH AHLIN-KOTTULINSKY  3. VARIOUS OF AHLIN-KOTTULINSKY IN ACTION 4. VARIOUS OF TEAM KMS' JOHAN KRISTOFFERSSON (SWEDEN) IN ACTION 5. AHLIN-KOTTULINSKY CLAPPING AS SHE WATCHES ON FROM GARAGE 6. ONBOARD WITH KRISTOFFERSSON  7. KRISTOFFERSSON'S SUV SLOWING DOWN AFTER TIME TRIAL 8. AHLIN-KOTTULINSKY HUGGING KRISTOFFERSSON AS HE EXITS SUV 9. VARIOUS OF SECOND PLACE JAMEEL MOTORSPORT'S MOLLY TAYLOR (AUSTRALIA) IN ACTION 10. JAMEEL MOTORSPORT'S KEVIN HANSEN (SWEDEN) IN ACTION 11. ONBOARD WITH HANSEN 12. VARIOUS OF HANSEN IN ACTION 13. VARIOUS OF THIRD PLACE TEAM HANSEN'S ANDREAS BAKKERUD (NORWAY) IN ACTION 14. VARIOUS OF TEAM HANSEN'S CATIE MUNNINGS (UK) IN ACTION 15. AHLIN-KOTTULINSKY AND KRISTOFFERSSON RECEIVING MEDALS STORY: The FIA Extreme H World Cup kicked off in the Saudi desert outside Qiddiya City on Thursday (September 9) with Team KMS drivers Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky earning the event's first medals.  The Swedish duo topped a tight time trial just 0.591 seconds ahead of Jameel Motorsport’s Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor in second with Andreas Bakkerud and Catie Munnings of Team Hansen coming third. The off-road event is the world's first FIA-sanctioned hydrogen-powered race event and features 16 drivers from eight teams.  Extreme H is an evolution of the Extreme E series, which promoted sustainability and electric vehicles by racing SUVs in harsh areas already suffering environmental damage. The new format, with Pioneer 25 cars and hydrogen produced by splitting water through electrolysis using renewable energy, began with rally-style racing against the clock on Thursday and will also feature driver head-to-heads on Friday and an eight-car final on Saturday. Extreme H founder Alejandro Agag told Reuters last month that there would be a Hydrogen World Cup every year, eventually expanding to two or three events in the region.   (Production: Conal Quinn)

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