- Extreme H to have official world championship status from 2026
- MD Russell says Phoenix finale is ‘fitting way to round off Extreme E’
Extreme E will not continue beyond the 2024 season as focus shifts to hydrogen-powered competition next year.
Until now, series executives had maintained that Extreme E and Extreme H would co-exist, but managing director Ali Russell has now confirmed on the series’ website that this year’s Phoenix finale ‘will be a fitting way to round off Extreme E’.
Following the confirmation that Extreme H would be given world championship status by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in 2026, it appeared likely that the hydrogen-powered alternative would be given primary focus.
A joint working group has also been established between Extreme H, Formula One and the FIA to evaluate developments and potential applications for hydrogen within motorsport.
Speaking at the Autosport International Show on 11th January, Andy Welch, utilities manager for Extreme E, expanded on the news.
He said: “If you’d asked that question two years ago it would be likely that it would be both.
“The Extreme H prototype is testing now, the championship will be in ’25. Extreme E will come to an end at the end of ’24.
“It’s a different car, different championship, same format. And Extreme E as it is, will stop.”
- Ali Russell on Extreme E’s broadcast strategy, new markets, and the goal of hydrogen-powered racing
- Extreme E would ‘dearly like race in North America’, says MD Ali Russell
That is not to say the concept of Extreme E is being entirely shelved, with the potential for a spin-off series if the right opportunity arises.
“We’re not making any preparations for continuing with Extreme E, although we could,” Welch told Motorsport.com.
“If the call came to do a series in Saudi or a series in Europe, it could happen.
“The commercial impact of running two championships at the same venue, although attractive in the sense that you could run two championships with one support, you don’t get twice the bang for the buck.
“You’re still only running a race weekend. And our spectators, are they interested in whether it’s an E or an H? Some won’t be, some will.
“The clear remit is H in ’25, E stops this year, although there will still be the cars there and all the infrastructure.”
Elsewhere, the series has confirmed the extension of its partnership with Continental for 2024, Extreme E’s official tyre supplier and a founding partner of the series.
BlackBook says…
This is a logical move from series organisers, which avoids future conflicts between what would have been the very similar branding and messaging of the two championships.
Now, Extreme H can establish itself as the founding hydrogen series, much like Formula E did for all-electric racing back in 2015. And, with official world championship backing from the FIA, it can do so as the foremost hydrogen series in the world.