Ayhancan Güven: Turkey’s First DTM Champion on Dreams, Motorsport, and the Road Ahead
The newly crowned 2025 DTM champion, Ayhancan Güven, reflects on a lifelong pursuit of motorsport excellence, the historic significance of his victory for Turkey, and the advice he offers to aspiring racers.
Ayhancan Güven’s journey to the pinnacle of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) began at the age of five,fueled by a dream he’s now realized. “Becoming DTM champion has undoubtedly always been one of my biggest dreams – the DTM is very important to me,” Güven stated. He emphasizes the series’ importance within sports car racing, highlighting it’s unique format as the only GT3 competition featuring solo drivers battling strong opposition in a sprint format.For Güven, this championship ranks among the top five racing titles worldwide, even alongside Formula racing accolades.
His 2025 championship win carries particular weight as he became the first Turkish driver to ever win a DTM race and, subsequently, the first Turkish champion in the series’ more than 40-year history. “A lot,” Güven responded when asked about the significance. “I always try to represent my country well. I’ve had to overcome many obstacles in the course of my career. My successes could make things a little easier for the next generation of Turkish racing drivers.”
The impact of Güven’s success extends far beyond the racetrack, resonating deeply within Turkish motorsport and national consciousness. He notes that his DTM title win dominated news coverage in Turkey for five consecutive days, sparking widespread interest in the sport. “A big influence,” Güven explained. “Now even more of my compatriots will be interested in racing. This success has enabled us to reach a new audience. People in Turkey now know what the DTM is – and that I won it.”
The 2025 DTM season saw Porsche and Manthey EMA emerge as the dominant force, securing seven first-place finishes. Güven himself contributed five victories
“Observe, soak everything up and make contacts,” he urged. “Focus on yourself when driving, work hard and analyze. The breakthrough doesn’t happen overnight; you have to do everything you can year after year to achieve your goals. Small details frequently enough make a big difference – you have to find them and focus on them.”
Born in Istanbul in January 1998, Güven began his motorsport journey in karting at the age of five, quickly achieving success with a national championship win at eleven. Facing limited opportunities in traditional motorsport, he honed his skills through sim racing, solidifying his ambition to become a professional driver. His career progressed through the Porsche Sports Cup Germany, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Benelux (2017-2018), and Porsche Carrera Cup France, which he won in both 2018 and 2019. He then excelled in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, finishing as the best rookie and second overall in 2019.After two seasons in the Porsche Junior Program and a runner-up finish in the 2022 ADAC GT Masters Cup, he debuted in DTM with Team 75 in 2023 before joining Manthey EMA for the 2024 season, ultimately securing his historic championship title.
You can follow Ayhancan Güven’s journey on his website: www.ayhancan.com.
Stay updated on his latest news and achievements through his social media channels: www.instagram.com/ayhancanguven?igsh=MXFnZWdteGFnMDRuaA==, x.com/AyhancanGuven, and www.tiktok.com/@ayhancanguven.
Güven’s victory is not just a personal triumph, but a landmark moment for Turkish motorsport, inspiring a new generation of racers and solidifying his place in DTM history.
