Saudi Arabia’s own Jameel Motorsport etched their name into the record books by winning the first-ever FIA Extreme H World Cup on Saturday, 11 October, as drivers Molly Taylor and Kevin Hansen claimed victory in Qiddiya City.
The landmark event marked the debut of an FIA-sanctioned hydrogen-powered championship, bringing together 16 of the world’s leading off-road racers across eight teams for three days of thrilling action through the demanding desert terrain of Saudi Arabia.
Each team competed in hydrogen-fuelled Pioneer 25 vehicles, featuring both a male and female driver sharing equal driving duties throughout the competition.
The weekend unfolded across three distinct race formats — Thursday’s Time Trials, Friday’s Head-to-Head duels, and Saturday’s dramatic Multi-Car final showdown.
Taylor and Hansen began their campaign with a strong second-place result in the Time Trials before storming through five consecutive victories in Friday’s Head-to-Head rounds to secure a commanding position heading into the final day.
Their dominance continued in Saturday’s opening Multi-Car Heat, earning Jameel Motorsport pole position for the ultimate race — the first-ever eight-car Extreme H final.
At lights out, Hansen made a blistering start and quickly built a commanding lead after taking advantage of early scrapping behind him. He then handed over to Taylor, who maintained the pace superbly and crossed the finish line more than seven seconds ahead of the field.
Rounding out the podium were Carl Cox Motorsport, represented by Klara Andersson and Timo Scheider, and Team EVEN, featuring Hedda Hosås and Ole Christian Veiby, following a fiercely competitive and unpredictable final.
As the dust settled across the Tuwaiq mountains, the event was hailed as a milestone moment for motorsport — showcasing innovation, inclusivity, and cutting-edge hydrogen technology. The FIA Extreme H World Cup’s inaugural running proved both sustainable and spectacular, paving the way for the sport’s future evolution.
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.”