### pioneer 25 makes stunning debut at hydro x prix in scotland **Meta Description:** The Pioneer 25 hydrogen-powered Extreme H car made its public debut at the Hydro X Prix in Scotland, showcasing significant advancements over its predecessor. Discover the highlights and insights from the test run. After over two years of anticipation and extensive secret testing, the Extreme H car, known as Pioneer 25, finally made its public debut at the Hydro X Prix in Scotland last weekend. This landmark event marked the first time the car ran on a full Extreme E course and was benchmarked against the venerable Odyssey 21. The excitement surrounding the Pioneer 25's first public outing was palpable. The car completed 1,100 miles of testing across various locations in France last year, but this was its first appearance on the demanding Hydro X Prix track. Extreme E and Extreme H technical director Mark Grain expressed his satisfaction with the car's performance throughout the race week. "I'm very happy," Grain shared with RACER. "Running the car alongside the Extreme E cars, using the same course and conditions, allowed us to perform essential tests that private testing couldn't match. It was the first time a hydrogen car ran in these conditions, not just for show but for genuine development purposes." Extreme E podium finisher Hedda Hosaas was at the wheel in Scotland, as her fellow tester Romain Dumas was busy at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Hosaas enjoyed extended seat time due to the successful tests, noting the challenges and rewards of the rigorous program. "It's been a good week," Hosaas remarked. "Driving the Pioneer 25 more than planned was beneficial. We faced new challenges and niggles, but that's what testing is for. By the end, we were putting in consecutive hard laps, including on proper mud, and the car handled really well. It’s definitely an improvement on the Extreme E car." While much attention has focused on the car's hydrogen power source, the Pioneer 25 boasts numerous enhancements. Spark, the manufacturer, introduced new suspension from Fox, a central driving position, and a revised battery placement for better balance and handling. These improvements were evident on the track, where the Pioneer 25 demonstrated superior performance compared to the Odyssey 21. “You’ve got an Extreme E car turning laps, and then shortly afterwards you’ve got the Extreme H car turning laps,” Grain pointed out. “You can see the step in performance and the way the Extreme H car is handling and performing compared to Extreme E.” Hosaas echoed this sentiment, highlighting the car's enhanced low-speed performance and improved visibility due to the central positioning. "It feels better, especially at low speed where we can gain the most because of the power we have now. It felt smooth and fast in the technical slow-speed sections — I was pushing, and it gives you a lot of confidence now." Despite the positive feedback, Grain refrained from revealing specific lap times but confirmed the hydrogen car's superior speed and performance. The car ran multiple race distances on the Hydro X Prix track and a shorter course at the site, providing valuable data for further development. “The short course is quite developed, allowing us to understand braking forces in the slow stuff,” Grain explained. “The high-speed left-hander provided a high degree of lateral G, benefiting our software and program testing.” Next on the agenda for the test team is a trip to Sardinia, known for its challenging race conditions. The Pioneer 25 will undergo further tests alongside the Extreme E car over consecutive race weekends. "We'll have even more testing days because it's a back-to-back event," Hosaas noted. "Sardinia's fast track, big jumps, and extreme conditions make it ideal for testing. It's going to be exciting because the car is so responsive in those areas." Grain outlined the comprehensive testing program planned for Sardinia, aiming to complete a cumulative race weekend of mileage on a championship track during an actual event. “We’ve got an extensive program there with two full days on the full course, and we’ll use the shorter course again in Sardinia,” Grain said. “We also want to run the car on the Sunday as well, mirroring the race conditions.” The Extreme H car's race testing program will resume in the second week of September, coinciding with rounds 5-8 of the 2024 Extreme E championship.

E.ON Next Veloce racing achieves double victory in Scotland

July 22, 2024 EV Powered

E.ON Next Veloce Racing clinched another victory at the Hydro X Prix, taking first place in Round 4 of Season 4, marking their second consecutive win.

Drivers Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor narrowly edged out the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team (ASXE) to extend their lead in the Extreme E championship, with Andretti Altawkilat rounding off the top three in Dumfries and Galloway.

In a challenging Grand Final, Rosberg X Racing (RXR) finished fourth after suffering a puncture, while the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team triumphed in the Redemption Race, finishing ahead of Legacy Motor Club.

E.ON Next Veloce Racing now leads the Extreme E standings with 87 points, nine points clear of their closest competitors, ASXE.

Molly Taylor of E.ON Next Veloce Racing commented, “Today was a real scrap. In Extreme E, with such close competition, getting to the Grand Final is an intense fight and anything can happen. Thanks to our fans’ support in GridPlay, we were able to start in a strong position. It’s one thing to be fast on track, but executing under pressure is crucial, and it feels great to have managed that. Leading the championship heading to Sardinia is fantastic, but we must keep pushing.”

Rosberg X Racing — Molly Taylor (AUS) / Kevin Hansen (SWE), Veloce Racing during (Photo by Colin McMaster / LAT Images)

Kevin Hansen added, “Another win on home soil is incredible. Double-headers are tricky as you can’t lose focus for a moment. The road to this win wasn’t straightforward, which makes it even more satisfying to have executed such a great race in the Final.”

Grand Final highlights

In the Round 4 Grand Final, Kevin Hansen of E.ON Next Veloce Racing took an early lead, ahead of ASXE’s Laia Sanz. RXR and Andretti Altawkilat followed, with Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Catie Munnings vying for third place.

By the Switch Zone, Hansen had built a 10-second lead. RXR’s puncture allowed Catie Munnings in the Andretti Altawkilat ODYSSEY 21 to pass during the second lap, despite a time penalty for dropped flags. After the driver change, Molly Taylor maintained an 8.8-second advantage over ASXE’s Fraser McConnell. McConnell tried to close the gap but Taylor held on, securing a clean sweep for E.ON Next Veloce at the Hydro X Prix. Andretti Altawkilat completed the podium.

Redemption Race recap

In the Redemption Race, Jenson Button’s JBXE started strong with Andreas Bakkerud in the lead, followed by Legacy Motor Club’s Patrick O’Donovan. O’Donovan took the lead with a decisive overtake up the hill during the first lap, with NEOM McLaren XE’s Christina Gutiérrez ahead of SUN Minimeal’s Timo Scheider.

A fierce battle ensued between Scheider and Gutiérrez, with Scheider receiving a 10-second penalty for a Waypoint flag infraction. All four teams were closely matched entering the Switch Zone. Legacy M.C’s Gray Leadbetter emerged first, followed by NEOM McLaren XE’s Ekström, who quickly took the lead, celebrating his birthday with a win. JBXE and SUN Minimeal encountered issues that dropped them out of contention.

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