Ayhancan Güven Clinches DTM Title in Thrilling Hockenheim Finale

Ayhancan Güven has been crowned the 2025 DTM champion after a dramatic victory in the season's final race at Hockenheim. The Porsche driver secured the title in a nail-biting finish, becoming the first Turkish champion in the series' history. The Manthey EMA team also celebrated a successful weekend, clinching the team championship.

Key Takeaways

• Ayhancan Güven secured the 2025 DTM Drivers' Championship with a victory in the final race.

• Güven is the first Turkish driver to win the DTM title.

• Manthey EMA team won the DTM Team Championship for the second consecutive year.

• Morris Schuring secured the 'Rookie of the Year' title.

A Championship Decided By A Hair's Breadth

The Hockenheimring witnessed an unforgettable conclusion to the 2025 DTM season. Ayhancan Güven, driving the #90 Porsche 911 GT3 R, executed a bold overtaking maneuver on the brakes into the Sachs curve to take the lead on Sunday. Despite a late safety car period bunching up the field and allowing closest rival Marco Wittmann of BMW to briefly take the lead on the final lap, Güven's determination saw him reclaim the lead just meters from the finish line to secure the victory and the championship.

Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport, hailed the event as "an incredible heart-stopping finale – it was a crazy thriller!" He congratulated Güven, the Manthey team, and acknowledged the contributions of Thomas Preining and Morris Schuring.

A Season Of Ups And Downs

While Güven celebrated his maiden title, his teammate Thomas Preining, who started the final race just three points behind the leader, finished sixth and ended the season in fourth overall. Preining had earlier secured victory in Saturday's rain-affected race, a performance that helped Manthey EMA secure the team championship. Morris Schuring, despite a first-lap collision not of his making in Sunday's race, had already achieved his season goal with a third-place finish on Saturday, earning him the 'Rookie of the Year' title.

Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director of Manthey Racing GmbH, reflected on an "impressive season with many ups and downs," highlighting the team's ability to perform under pressure.

Porsche's Dominance

With seven victories across the 16-race season, Porsche emerged as the most successful manufacturer. Ayhancan Güven led the charge with five wins, supported by Thomas Preining's two victories. The manufacturer standings saw Mercedes-AMG narrowly take the top spot, with Porsche in second and BMW M in third.

Final Driver Standings (Top 5):

1. Ayhancan Güven (TUR), Porsche, 192 points

2. Lucas Auer (AUT), Mercedes-AMG, 188 points

3. Maro Engel (GER), Mercedes-AMG, 184 points

4. Thomas Preining (AUT), Porsche, 182 points

5. Ricardo Feller (CHE), Audi, 178 points

Final Team Standings (Top 3):

1. Manthey (Porsche), 392 points

2. Schubert Motorsport (BMW), 330 points

3. Winward Racing (Mercedes-AMG), 319 points