Extreme H tests bring driver praise for the new car and new technology

Extreme H testing continued last week in Fontjoncouse, France, with a group of Extreme E's top drivers and a World Rallycross race winner getting their first taste of the hydrogen-powered Pioneer 25, set to race next year.

So far testing of the new car has been carried out exclusively by Extreme E podium finisher Hedda Hosaas and two-time Le Mans winner and Pikes Peak record holder Romain Dumas, but recent test participants have also included Kevin and Timmy Hansen – both of the The car's predecessor, the Odyssey 21 from Extreme E, tested at the beginning of its development.

“It's crazy to think that five years ago me and my brother tested the Extreme E car for the first time, also in France,” said Kevin Hansen. “And here we are, five years later, with the brand new future of Extreme E, Extreme H, and seeing how far this series has come as well is absolutely fantastic.”

The latest testers confirmed the positive reaction from the car's first testers, with the younger Hansen saying: “It's really fascinating to try out a new part of the future of motorsport.” So far it's been a really good test where we've tried Development of this new Extreme H car and working with the team on every part of the car, from the wipers to the tires – everything we can imagine when starting from scratch on a new car. So it’s super exciting times and hopefully we can have a great championship next year.”

Hansen's older brother, 2019 RX World Champion Timmy Hansen, was impressed with how advanced the new car was compared to its Extreme E predecessor.

“They did a fantastic job,” he said. “They've put a lot of effort into improving both on the Extreme E car, but they've taken all the lessons learned from that, improved it, made it wider and longer, improved the suspension and of course the hydrogen system – hugely complex in the car – but it “It’s great to drive.”

To the uninitiated, the Pioneer 25 looks broadly similar to the Odyssey 21, but the mass of the car has increased – from 1,900 kg to 2,200 kg (4,189 lbs to 4,850 lbs) due to the hydrogen fuel cell and the resulting improved safety measures with it – was an outstanding observation.

“There’s a lot of similarities, so I kind of feel at home,” Timmy Hansen said. “Now you sit in the middle of the car, the suspension works a little differently, you feel the weight a little.

“Now you also have the hydrogen system, so you feel like the car is heavier, but overall you can say it's a better car. It’s a better design and there are so many more tools that teams can use to optimize the setup for each track, which will be very interesting.”

Although the increase in weight and size may seem negative, especially in the context of a racing car, it also brings advantages.

“It’s quite a beast, to be honest,” says Catie Munnings, who has worked with Timmy Hansen at Andretti since the first season of Extreme E in 2021. “We store hydrogen in the car, so we have a lot more protection. We have a 15 millimeter steel plate on the roof, we have a lot of side protection and you can see how wide the door is…

“And in terms of driving, we obviously have to counteract this and predict that it will be a little more difficult. But that's why we have better (suspension) geometry with the car this time. The chassis is better in the corners.”

Niclas Gronholm, who did not compete in Extreme E but has eight World RX victories, three top-three championship finishes and a Nitrocross podium, also pointed out that the increased dimensions of the car have a positive effect driving experience.

“It's impressive how you can handle all the bumps, big rocks and jumps,” he noted. “That was a pretty cool experience.

“It was better than I expected in terms of the way you can play with the car. Even though it has a long wheelbase and the car is quite large, you can still approach it with the same driving technique that you would use in a rally or rallycross car or any other smaller racing car. I think from that perspective it was even better than I thought.”

Of course, the focus of the Pioneer 25 has so far been on hydrogen fuel cell technology and improved driving dynamics, but ultimately it is still a racing car. And Kevin Hansen says there will be improvements in this regard too.

“I think compared to the Extreme E car, this car feels bigger and heavier, but it definitely feels racier,” he says. “It’s a step forward in the right direction.”

Timmy Hansen added that the new car will encourage teams to work harder and that teams need to get the best out of them.

“It’s more stable on the ground; I'm sure we'll have a great race with it. I think this car will drive a little differently,” he said. “There will be a bigger difference between the team that puts in a lot of effort and the team that doesn't, because you can do more things with this car.” And maybe that could lead to a team being strong in one area is and another team is not.

“There are always fine-tunings to the setup, but that will come later when we are with the team to fine-tune the car for each individual driver.”

While improvement over the previous generation was a key focus in the transition from Extreme E to Extreme H, dispelling myths surrounding hydrogen technology is another focus. And after trying out the car for the first time, Munnings is all about it.

“The biggest misunderstanding about hydrogen is the safety aspect,” she said. “But when you see the crash tests it did with the FIA, it’s crazy.

“I would say it is actually one of the safest, if not the safest, off-road vehicles on the market. And I think the testing it has gone through has made it safer than some of the combustion cars on the market.”

Gronholm, whose “day job” involves racing in a series that pits combustion engines against electric cars, is excited to see another option come to the table.

“It is positive that we have these alternatives, that it is not just about combustion engines and electric drives, but that new technologies are also being added,” he says. “I am sure that there is not only black and white, but only electricity and fuel. I’m sure they’re actually experimenting with how it might work – that’s good.”