Güven Clinches 2025 DTM Championship in Thrilling Hockenheim Finale
Ayhancan Güven secured his place in motorsport history by clinching the 2025 DTM championship during a nail-biting finale at Hockenheimring. With his fifth victory of the season, the 27-year-old driver from Turkey became the first Turkish champion in DTM history, propelling Manthey EMA and Porsche to their second driver’s title in three seasons.
Entering the race fifth in the standings, Güven’s triumph was a culmination of over 20 years in racing. “This is the biggest success of my career. The finale was one of the most exciting in DTM history,” he remarked after the race.
Marco Wittmann of Schubert Motorsport produced an impressive drive, rallying from 17th to finish second in his BMW M4 GT3 Evo. Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing’s Maro Engel rounded out the podium in third.
Lucas Auer, the championship leader entering the weekend, finished fourth, ultimately losing the title by just four points. “I left my heart out on the track,” Auer said, expressing disappointment after a formidable season.
The season finale commenced under sunny skies, with Comtoyou Racing’s Gilles Magnus initially leading in his Aston Martin. However, drama unfolded when René Rast, who was in the hunt for the title, retired early due to a collision. “This feels like a nightmare,” Rast lamented after his final DTM appearance.
As the race progressed, Güven executed a crucial tyre strategy, taking control at the front. A fierce last-lap duel saw Wittmann briefly take the lead before Güven’s dynamic counterattack on the Sachskurve corner secured his victory by just 0.169 seconds.
Auer, affected by penalties imposed on competitors, finished in a solid fourth, while Thomas Preining concluded his title defense in sixth. Notably, 17-year-old Tom Kalender achieved a remarkable top-five finish for Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf.
With Mercedes-AMG winning the Constructors’ Championship for the second consecutive year, and Manthey Junior’s Morris Schuring earning “Rookie of the Year” honors, the 2025 DTM season concluded with a showcase of tight competition and strategic brilliance.
Key results:
- Ayhancan Güven (Porsche)
- Marco Wittmann (BMW)
- Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG)
- Lucas Auer (Mercedes-AMG)
- Tom Kalender (Mercedes-AMG)
As the curtain falls on this season, the DTM community looks forward to an exciting future, with Güven emerging as a notable champion.
