A Turkish Triumph: Ayhancan Güven Seizes Dramatic DTM Title at Hockenheim

A Turkish Triumph: Ayhancan Güven Seizes Dramatic DTM Title at Hockenheim

A Turkish Triumph: Ayhancan Güven Seizes Dramatic DTM Title at Hockenheim

In a breathtaking season finale at Hockenheim, Ayhancan Güven made history by becoming the first Turkish driver ever to win the DTM championship. His victory capped off an intense duel in the final laps of Sunday’s Race 16, securing him the 2025 DTM drivers’ crown. (Porsche Newsroom)

Güven’s Manthey EMA teammate, Thomas Preining, had earlier taken victory in the rain‑affected Saturday race — and with that, Manthey claimed the team championship already before Sunday. (Porsche Newsroom)

Weekend Recap: From Rain to Last‑Lap Drama

Saturday, Race 15

  • Rain delayed the start and made conditions treacherous. (Porsche Newsroom)

  • Preining navigated the wet asphalt masterfully, breaking away to nearly 17 seconds of lead and winning decisively. (Porsche Newsroom)

  • Morris Schuring, in his debut DTM season, held on for 2nd place — the best result of his young career — and clinched the “Rookie of the Year” title. (Porsche Newsroom)

  • Güven, meanwhile, brought his 911 GT3 R home in 5th. (Porsche Newsroom)

Sunday, Race 16

  • Starting 2nd on the grid, Güven executed a flawless race: after the first performance pit stops, he moved into the lead and maintained it through the second tire change. (Porsche Newsroom)

  • A late Safety Car phase narrowed the gap to his nearest rival, Marco Wittmann. On the final lap, Wittmann briefly surged past into the Motodrom – but Güven seized a slim opening and reclaimed the lead just meters from the finish line. (Porsche Newsroom)

  • The win gave Güven the championship by a slim margin, highlighting his resolve and racecraft under pressure. (Porsche Newsroom)

  • Preining ended Sunday in 6th; Schuring, recovering from a first‑lap collision, finished 14th. (Porsche Newsroom)

Final Standings & Key Stats

  • Drivers’ Championship
     1. Ayhancan Güven (192 pts)
     2. Lucas Auer (188 pts)
     3. Maro Engel (184 pts)
     4. Thomas Preining (182 pts) (Porsche Newsroom)

  • Team Championship
     1. Manthey (392 pts)
     2. Schubert Motorsport (BMW) (330 pts) (Porsche Newsroom)

  • Manufacturer Standings
     1. Mercedes‑AMG (418 pts)
     2. Porsche (406 pts)
     3. BMW (348 pts) (Porsche Newsroom)

  • During the season, Porsche claimed 7 race wins, far more than any other manufacturer. Güven contributed five of those victories; Preining had two. (Porsche Newsroom)

Voices from the Helpline

  • Ayhancan Güven:

    “I’ve been working towards this kind of success since I started motorsport as a five‑year‑old. … Before the race, I knew that only a victory would give me a realistic chance of winning the title. During the race, I refused to do any calculations … When Marco Wittmann overtook me on the last lap, my team radioed me that I had to win. So I took advantage of the tiny gap … and squeezed past him again.” (Porsche Newsroom)

  • Thomas Preining:

    “I'm a little disappointed with fourth in the overall standings. … But the fact that we were still in contention for the title until the end is a positive sign. … I’ll be back on the attack next year.” (Porsche Newsroom)

  • Morris Schuring:

    “I am very proud of my first DTM podium … Although Sunday didn’t go well, the team did a great job getting my car back on the track, letting me secure rookie class honors.” (Porsche Newsroom)

  • Porsche & Manthey team leads praised the teamwork, precision pit stops, and mental strength under extreme pressure. The combined effort left no margin for error. (Porsche Newsroom)

“Porsche Nation” Take

For Porsche Nation, this marks a milestone moment — not just for the brand, but for Turkish motorsport. Ayhancan Güven’s title is symbolic: a testament to talent, consistency, and nerves of steel. It also underlines Porsche’s depth in customer racing and the strength of the Manthey program.

Looking ahead, readers might expect deeper dives:

  • A technical breakdown of Güven’s race strategy and the 911 GT3 R setup used.

  • A profile of how Porsche’s customer racing factory support contributed behind the scenes.

  • Speculation and insight into how the 2026 DTM campaign might build on this momentum.

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