Home heroes Jameel Motorsport celebrated a historic triumph in Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia, as drivers Molly Taylor and Kevin Hansen powered to victory in the debut FIA Extreme H World Cup — the world’s first hydrogen-powered event under FIA sanction.
Held over three action-packed days in the Saudi desert, the pioneering championship featured 16 elite off-road competitors across eight teams, each battling through three distinct race disciplines in cutting-edge Pioneer 25 machines powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Each team fielded one male and one female driver, both sharing driving duties equally — a format designed to promote balance and teamwork at the highest level of competition..
The event opened with Thursday’s Time Trials, continued with Friday’s thrilling Head-to-Head rounds, and culminated in Saturday’s fiercely contested FIA Extreme H World Cup Final.
Taylor and Hansen began with a solid second-place finish on day one before dominating the next stage, securing five victories in the Head-to-Head races to establish themselves as the team to beat.
Their momentum carried into the opening Multi-Car Heat, which they also won — earning Jameel Motorsport pole position for the grand final, a first-of-its-kind eight-car Extreme H showdown.
When the lights went out, Hansen made a rapid getaway, pulling clear after early skirmishes in the pack. After building a comfortable lead, he handed the car over to Taylor, who drove flawlessly to secure victory by more than seven seconds.
Carl Cox Motorsport, with drivers Klara Andersson and Timo Scheider, and Team EVEN, represented by Hedda Hosås and Ole Christian Veiby, completed the podium after a tense and action-filled race that kept spectators on edge until the final lap.
The conclusion of the event across the Tuwaiq mountains was hailed as a major success, blending sporting drama with technological progress. As the first FIA-sanctioned hydrogen-powered event, Extreme H demonstrated how innovation, accessibility, and sustainability can coexist in a new era of motorsport.
Molly Taylor, Jameel Motorsport, said: “Winning the very first FIA Extreme H World Cup feels incredible. There were so many unknowns competing across three different disciplines, so it has been an intense week. Our team did an amazing job, Kevin (Hansen) always does an amazing job. This one feels like the sweetest trophy I’ve ever had. We are so grateful to Jameel Motorsport for backing us, we have been feeling all the support of everyone here in Saudi Arabia.”
Kevin Hansen, Jameel Motorsport, said: “It feels amazing. Winning the FIA Extreme H World Cup – the world’s first ever FIA hydrogen event, it’s an unbelievable feeling. There was so much pressure leading up to that final and to hand over to Molly (Taylor) in the lead, and she pulled an even bigger gap to win the race. Winning it here for the home team, Jameel Motorsport… what a beautiful, beautiful week.”
Emilia Abel, FIA Road Sport Director, said: “It’s been a great week here in Saudi Arabia – many congratulations to Molly and to Kevin and everyone at Jameel Motorsport, they should be very proud to be the first ever FIA Extreme H World Cup winners. The SAMF, Extreme H promoter and all of the teams and drivers have put on a fantastic show. I’d also like to thank the many volunteers and FIA officials who were braving the heat in Qiddiya to make sure the event ran smoothly and safely – altogether they made sure this first step into hydrogen-powered motor sport was a good one.”
