FIA Extreme H World Cup to return for second running

The FIA Extreme H World Cup will return later this year for its second edition, the competition announced on Wednesday. 

Following its debut last year, the world's first hydrogen-powered motorsport competition will return to Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia on 29-31 October. Last year’s event – a three-discipline format comprising time trials, head-to-heads, and multi-car races – was won by Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor driving for Jameel Motorsport after winning the headline eight-car final. 

Team Hansen's Andreas Bakkerud and Catie Munnings ended up second, ahead of Kristoffersson Motorsport's Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky, who also won the Time Trial portion of the event

"The inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup was proof that we could combine the raw ferocity of world-class motor sport with a future powered by clean energy,” said Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of Extreme H. “This second chapter, together with the FIA, our partners and the support of our host Qiddiya City, is about accelerating that vision as we continue to redefine the limits of what’s possible, for our pioneering technologies and our boundary-breaking drivers.” 

The location for the FIA Extreme H World Cup is among a massive development dubbed a 'city of play'. Following last year's event, a Six Flags theme park opened nearby in December, followed by Aquarabia, the Middle East's largest water park, followed suit earlier this year while an 18-hole championship golf course is also on the way later this year. But most notably, the area is aiming to host the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at its new Speed Park which is currently under construction. 

"The return of the FIA Extreme H World Cup to Qiddiya City for the second time reflects the city's growing reputation as a global destination for motorsport and world-class sports events,” said Abdullah Aldawood, managing director of the Qiddiya Investment Company. “It reaffirms that hosting the inaugural event was a landmark moment in demonstrating Qiddiya City's capacity to stage innovative sports events that bring together competition, sustainability, and the technologies of tomorrow.

"By hosting events of this caliber, Qiddiya City continues to strengthen its role as a national and global platform for entertainment, sports, and culture, advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and elevating the Kingdom's profile on the international sports stage."