The city of Qiddiya in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, witnessed a milestone in the global motorsport journey with the crowning of the duo Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor from Team “Jameel” as champions of the inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup.

The organizing committee told “Al-Rai” that the championship represents a turning point in racing, being the first official motorsport competition powered by hydrogen fuel cells and sanctioned by the International Automobile Federation (FIA). It featured 8 international teams, each with a male and female driver competing over three days in an innovative race format including time trials, direct confrontations, and culminating in a grand final race with eight cars, blending sporting excitement with clean technology.

Set against the scenic backdrop of the Tuwaiq Mountains, the race embodied an inspiring mix of competitive spirit and innovation, demonstrating hydrogen technology’s capability to drive a zero-emission future without compromising performance or driving experience.

After excelling in the preliminary rounds, the duo Hansen (Sweden) and Taylor (Australia) maintained their lead in the final race. Hansen started from pole position and gained a deserved lead in the early stages, before Taylor took over to complete the mission and secure victory by a margin of 7.068 seconds over Carl Cox Motorsport, while Team EVEN finished third on the podium.

Kevin Hansen said after the win: “Winning the first title in the history of this championship is undoubtedly the greatest achievement of my career. It was wonderful to represent a Saudi team and feel the support of the crowd here in Qiddiya. This is a moment we will always cherish.”

Molly Taylor noted the week was intense by all measures, adding: “Every day required the utmost focus, and winning this title is the culmination of a fantastic team effort by all members.”

Over the three days of competition, several teams shone; Team KMS won the first medal in time trials, and STARD secured victory in the direct confrontations, before Team “Jameel” closed the championship by winning the final race and claiming the first world title.