DTM Race Report: Sachsenring Delivers High Stakes Drama
Sachsenring, Germany – Ayhancan Güven secured his fourth DTM victory of the season, replicating his Saturday performance in a race marked by high drama and strategic maneuvers. The 27-year-old Turkish driver capitalized on key incidents involving front-runners to clinch the win.
Güven’s success came amid a chaotic backdrop, including a collision between pole-sitter Jack Aitken (Emil Frey Ferrari) and his Manthey EMA teammate Thomas Preining. "Wow, what an awesome weekend! I really wanted to win. I produced a top performance," Güven stated, acknowledging the benefits of Aitken’s misfortune but emphasizing his own strong race.
Initially, celebrations surrounded Ben Dörr, who became the first McLaren driver to podium in DTM history. However, he was disqualified post-race due to a tire change violation on the grid, moving Jules Gounon (Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter) into second and Ben Green (Emil Frey Racing) to third.
The race commenced without incident, with Aitken leading the charge, followed closely by Güven and Preining. Aitken maintained his lead after the first round of pit stops until a miscalculated maneuver by Preining led to a pivotal collision that spun Aitken off track. Preining received a three-lap penalty for his role in the incident, effectively ending his race as he fell to the back of the pack.
Güven seized the opportunity, managing a flawless second tire change and maintaining control to finish first after 41 laps. Gounon and Green rounded out the podium, with Marco Wittmann (Schubert Motorsport) impressively recovering 14 positions to finish fourth, followed closely by René Rast in fifth.
Race Results:
- Ayhancan Güven
- Jules Gounon, +2.298 seconds
- Ben Green, +7.076 seconds
- Marco Wittmann, +13.013 seconds
- René Rast, +16.452 seconds
Gounon expressed optimism following the weekend, closing the points gap in the championship chase: “We have managed to close the gap significantly. The crazy races at Sachsenring have shown how quickly everything can change in the DTM.” Aitken reflected on his misstep, noting the importance of capitalizing on future races.
As the season progresses, the championship remains competitive, with Lucas Auer reclaiming the top spot in the standings after finishing eighth, ahead of Aitken and Güven. The next race promises further excitement as teams strategize for the challenges ahead.
