OSCHERSLEBEN, Germany — Ayhancan Güven clinched his maiden victory after a strong tactical and driving performance. This marked the first time a driver from Turkey has won a DTM race.
The Porsche driver from Team Manthey EMA started fourth in Sunday’s race in Oschersleben. Thanks to a perfectly timed first tire change, Güven took the lead and crossed the finish line first with a lead of 2.6 seconds.
“This moment has been my ultimate goal since my first DTM race. Last year was rather disappointing for me, so it feels all the better to start the new season with a win. My father was right next to the podium and was my first to congratulate me. As my mentor, he played a major role in this success,” said a delighted Turk.
Jules Gounon from Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter finished the second DTM race of the season in second place. Thomas Preining finished third in the second Manthey EMA 911. A total of 47,000 spectators witnessed a spectacular DTM season opener in the Magdeburg Börde region under brilliant sunshine.
At the start of the second DTM race, polesitter Gounon maintained his lead ahead of Jordan Pepper of TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT. Güven gained one position to finish third. However, the first mandatory pit stop shuffled the positions. While their competitors changed their Pirelli slicks early, Güven and Schubert Motorsport’s BMW driver René Rast, who had started in 15th place, only pitted two laps later.
This strategy paid off, with Güven and Rast taking first and second place upon their return to the track. Behind them followed the previously leading duo of Gounon and Pepper, with Preining lying in wait in fifth.
Thanks to the new race format, starting this season, the DTM stars must make a second mandatory pit stop in every Sunday race. Güven completed this one flawlessly and remained in the lead, while Gounon moved up to second.
Porsche works driver Preining improved to third place with strong overtaking maneuvers, followed by Pepper and Rast. The top five drivers were ranked in this order after 40 laps.
Marco Wittmann gained seven places and finished sixth behind his teammate Rast. Luca Engstler finished Sunday’s race in seventh place in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2.
Ben Dörr achieved the best result of his still young DTM career, finishing eighth in the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo of Dörr Motorsport. Reigning champion Mirko Bortolotti of Abt Sportsline finished ninth. Saturday’s winner Luca Auer could only manage 10th place in the Mercedes-AMG GT3.
