Yokohama to supply tyres for the first hydrogen racing car championship
The Yokohama Rubber company has announced that it will be the official tire supplier for the Extreme H series, the world's first hydrogen fuel cell racing championship, which will be launched in Saudi Arabia next month (exact date and location to be announced in the coming days). The new FIA-sanctioned series replaces the Extreme E championship, where participants drive electric SUVs. The final stage of Extreme E will take place on October 4-5 in Saudi Arabia, and Yokohama will also supply tires for it.
The Extreme E and Extreme H racing series were created to demonstrate the effectiveness of new-generation automotive technologies in extreme conditions, promote sustainable development in the industry, and raise public environmental awareness. In addition, both championships promote gender equality in motorsport.
In Extreme H, all teams will use a specially designed racing SUV, the Pioneer 25 fuel cell, which develops up to 550 horsepower and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Eight teams from Austria, Britain, Spain, and Sweden will participate in the series, each consisting of two world-class drivers (one male and one female), and the races will be broadcast worldwide.
The Extreme E championship, the predecessor to Extreme H, was launched in 2021, and a specially designed electric SUV, the Odyssey 21, was developed for it (with tires specially prepared by Continental). All Extreme H teams will participate in the final stage of the closing championship, which is "moving to a hydrogen future".
For both series, Yokohama has developed a special prototype tire based on the serial off-road model Yokohama Geolandar X-AT, with an increase of up to 38% in the share of renewable and recycled materials. In addition, the strength of the tires has been increased, as they will be used on heavy hydrogen and electric vehicles.
"We are pleased to welcome Yokohama to the Extreme H family," said Ali Russell, series CEO. "As we open up new horizons for hydrogen motorsport, having a partner like a tire manufacturer with a high reputation for excellent product performance and achievements in sustainable development is crucial."
Takayoshi Omae, Yokohama's acting director of product planning, added that "it is an honor for us to collaborate with Extreme H at a milestone moment in the history of motorsport".