(Motorsports news) The sport-for-purpose motor racing series Extreme E’s ship, St. Helena, navigated London’s River Thames this morning (26 June) ahead of the official unveiling of Extreme H, the world’s first hydrogen off-road racing championship – taking place aboard the ship tomorrow (27 June).
The St. Helena, which was last in London for the launch of Extreme E in January 2019, passed under the iconic Tower Bridge before mooring next to HMS Belfast, where she will remain for the rest of the week, providing the setting for the much- anticipated reveal of Extreme H and the hydrogen racing series’ first-ever race car.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme H, said: “Seeing the St. Helena travel along the River Thames with our Extreme H car on-board takes me back to the great memory of launching Extreme E five years ago in the same place, the start of a great adventure.
“We are all excited to reveal the first-ever Extreme H car and to do so aboard the St. Helena, which is so pivotal to the success of our series and one of the many elements which makes us as a racing championship so unique, is going to be momentous.
“We are looking forward to launching a new era for motorsport and hydrogen, and to do so on the River Thames with the backdrop of Tower Bridge will be a special feeling.”
Extreme E’s global odyssey is made possible by its floating centrepiece and base, the St. Helena. She is used to transport the championship’s freight and infrastructure, including each car competing in the series, to the nearest port to each race location, minimising Extreme E’s emissions by 75 per cent compared to airfreight.
The former Royal Mail cargo-passenger vessel which once provided the island of St Helena with its only freight and passenger transport links to the mainland, underwent an extensive multi-million pound renovation process in 2020, including a comprehensive mechanical overhaul, full refurbishment of its interior into a VIP hospitality and hotel facility, and fresh branded Championship livery.
The official launch of Extreme H is set to redefine the future of motorsport, as the series prepares to evolve from its electric racing roots to become the world’s first hydrogen racing series, testing cutting-edge hydrogen technologies in a competitive racing environment from 2025.
You can stay up-to-date with the unveiling of the pioneering hydrogen-powered championship and first-ever Extreme H car online and via Extreme E’s digital channels.
