Extreme H testing continued last week at Fontjon Couse in France, where a group of top Extreme E drivers and World Rallycross race winners got their first taste of the hydrogen-fueled Pioneer 25 that will race next year.
Until now, testing of new cars has been carried out exclusively by Extreme E podium finisher Hedda Hossaas and two-time Le Mans winner and Pikes Peak record holder Romain Dumas, but the latest test participants Kevin and Timmy Hansen were among those involved. He tested this car’s predecessor, the Extreme E Odyssey 21, early in its development.
Kevin Hansen said: “It’s incredible to think that five years ago my brother and I were testing the first Extreme E cars in France. “And now, five years later, a whole new future for Extreme E, Extreme H is here. It’s really amazing to see how far this series has evolved.”
The latest testers echoed the positive reaction of the car’s first testers, with the younger Hansen saying: “It’s really interesting to take on a new part of the future of motorsport. It’s been a really good test so far, working with the team on every part of the car, from the wipers to the tyres, and working on this new Extreme H car. We tried to feel the development, everything you can imagine when starting from scratch with a new car. So it’s a very exciting time and we hope to have a great championship next year.
Hansen’s older brother and 2019 World RX Champion Timmy Hansen was impressed with how far the new car has come from the previous Extreme E.
“They did a great job,” he said. “They’ve put a lot of effort into improving both of their Extreme E machines, but they’ve taken everything they’ve learned from that and refined it, making it wider, longer, improving the suspension, and of course the hydrogen We’ve also improved the system. It’s very complex inside, but it’s great to drive.”
For the uninitiated, the Pioneer 25 looks almost identical to the Odyssey 21, but hydrogen fuel cells and accompanying improvements in safety measures increase the car’s mass from 1,900 kg to 2,200 kg (4,189 lb to 4,850 lb) . Along with this, some remarkable observations were made.
“It’s kind of reassuring because there are so many similarities,” Timmy Hansen said. “Now, when you sit in the middle of the car, the suspension works a little differently and you feel a little bit heavier.
“Now that we have the hydrogen system as well, it feels like the car is heavier, but you can see that it is a better car overall. There are a lot more tools you can use to optimize it, and it’s going to be very interesting.”
But while increased mass and size may seem negative, especially for racing cars, it also has benefits.
“Honestly, this is a bit of a beast,” says Katie Munnings, who has teamed up with Timmy Hansen at Andretti since the first season of Extreme E in 2021. It has more protection. The roof has 15 millimeter steel plates, there’s plenty of side protection, and you can see how wide the doors are…
“And obviously on the driving side you have to counter that and expect it to be a little bit heavier. But because of that, the (suspension) geometry of the car is better this time. The chassis handles better in the corners. ”
Nicklas Gronholm, who has not competed in Extreme E but has won eight World RX races, three top three finishes in the championship, and has finished on the podium in Nitrocross, is also excited about the increased dimensions of his car. He pointed out that this had a positive effect. Driving experience.
“It’s impressive that you can get over any bumps, big rocks or jumps,” he said. “It was such an amazing experience.
“It was better than I expected in terms of how you can play with the car, even though the wheelbase is long and the car is quite large, it’s similar to what you would use in a rally car, rallycross car or other small race car. I was able to approach it with a different driving technique.From that perspective, I think it was better than I expected.”
Of course, much of the Pioneer 25’s focus so far has been on hydrogen fuel cell technology and improving driving dynamics, but at the end of the day it’s still a racing car. And Kevin Hansen says he expects to see improvements in that area as well.
“Compared to the Extreme E car, this car feels bigger and heavier, but it certainly feels racier,” he says. “This is a step in the right direction.”
Timmy Hansen added that the new car will encourage the team to work harder and the team needs to get the most out of it.
“It’s more stable on the ground. I’m sure we’ll have a great race with this. I think this car will race a little bit differently,” he said. “There’s going to be a bigger difference between the teams that put in a lot of effort and the teams that don’t, because there’s a lot more you can do with this car. This could result in one team being strong in another and not being strong in another team.
“The set-up always requires fine-tuning, but that will be done later on when we get together with the team to set up the car for each driver.”
While improving on the previous generation was a key focus in the transition from Extreme E to Extreme H, dispelling myths about hydrogen technology was another focus. And after Munnings got a taste of the car for the first time, he was completely sold on it.
“The biggest misconception about hydrogen is safety,” she says. “But if you look at the crash tests carried out by the FIA, it’s insane.
“In fact, I think this is one of the safest, if not the safest, off-road cars currently on sale. And with the tests that have been done so far, I think it’s one of the safest off-road cars on sale today. I think it’s safer.”
Gronholm, whose “day job” is racing in a series that competes with internal combustion engines and electric cars, is excited to see another option brought to the table.
“It’s positive that we have these alternatives and it’s not just internal combustion engines or electricity, but new technologies are being introduced,” he says. “I’m sure it’s not just black and white with electricity and fuel. I’m sure they’re actually experimenting with how it works – and that’s a good thing.”
