DTM Sachsenring: Güven Takes Double Win, Championship Battle Blows Wide Open in Race 2

Ayhancan Güven secured his second victory of the weekend and fourth of the season aboard the #90 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R in Race 2 at the Sachsenring, after fellow Manthey EMA driver Thomas Preining was handed three penalty laps. Sunday’s race saw several title contenders hit trouble, blowing the battle for the DTM championship wide open.

Strong Start Sets Up Güven’s Charge

In contrast to Saturday’s race, Race 2 started in dry conditions. Güven made a strong start from third, overtaking his teammate and moving up to second behind polesitter Jack Aitken. From there, he stayed consistent and eventually inherited the lead. This marks Porsche pilot’s fourth career DTM victory, and with the result he firmly re-enters the championship battle, especially after Jordan Pepper in the #63 TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT Lamborghini Huracán GT3 lost crucial points following contact with Ben Green in the #10 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3.

Dörr Scores First Podium

In second place, Ben Dörr (#25 Dörr Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3) delivered a surprise by climbing from tenth on the grid, benefiting from a last-second pit stop call to take home his first DTM podium. Jules Gounon (#48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter Mercedes-AMG GT3) mirrored Dörr’s pit strategy, which helped him lock down the final spot on the podium in P3.

Update: Ben Dörr has been disqualified from Race 2. Read more here.

Pepper vs. Green Ends in Frustration

Ben Green finished in fourth after an impressive drive that included several wheel-to-wheel battles, most notably with Jordan Pepper. Unfortunately, contact between the two caused damage to Pepper’s car. The South African later expressed frustration, saying it was a shame as he was in the championship fight, but the damage ultimately forced his retirement.

Preining and Aitken Clash

Elsewhere among the title contenders, Thomas Preining (#91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R) saw his hopes dashed after being handed a three-lap penalty for causing a collision with Jack Aitken (#14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3) while trying to go for the lead. The Brit got stranded in the gravel, dropping him far down the field and eventually finishing without points in sixteenth. The incident shifted the standings, handing the championship lead back to Lucas Auer (#22 Landgraf Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3). With this result, Güven’s double win at the Sachsenring lifted him to third in the standings, just one point behind Pepper.

High Attrition at the Sachsenring

Race 2 took its toll on the field, with several drivers forced to retire. The chaos began at the start when Tom Kalender (#84 Landgraf Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3) retired after contact, while Arjun Maini (#36 HRT Performance Ford Mustang GT3) suffered car issues following the opening-lap incidents. Other retirements included Nicki Thiim (#2 ABT Sportsline Lamborghini Huracán GT3), Jordan Pepper, Timo Glock, and Mirko Bortolotti (#1 ABT Sportsline Lamborghini Huracán GT3).

Championship Battle Heats Up

The championship battle is tighter with just two rounds remaining. Lucas Auer, despite midfield results in recent races, leads the standings with 150 points due to consistency and troubled races of his contenders. He is trailed by Jack Aitken in second with 148 points and Ayhancan Güven another two points behind in third. Jordan Pepper and Thomas Preining also remain close with respectively 145 and 135 points, while Maro Engel and René Rast are well within reach of Auer as well.

With only two race weekends left, the questions remain: Can Auer defend his lead, will Aitken strike back, will Güven continue his charge, and will more drivers join the battle?

The race for the championship continues at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on September 13-14.

DTM Sachsenring – Race 2 Top 10

Ayhancan Güven (#90 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R) – 41 laps – 25 pts
Ben Dörr (#25 Dörr Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3) – +1.698 – 20 pts * DQ
Jules Gounon (#48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter Mercedes-AMG GT3) – +2.298 – 16 pts
Ben Green (#10 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3) – +7.076 – 13 pts
Marco Wittmann (#11 Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3) – +13.013 – 11 pts
René Rast (#33 Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3) – +16.452 – 10 pts
Maro Engel (#24 Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3) – +16.875 – 9 pts
Morris Schuring (#92 Manthey Junior Team Porsche 911 GT3 R) – +17.267 – 8 pts
Lucas Auer (#22 Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf Mercedes-AMG GT3) – +17.904 – 7 pts
Gilles Magnus (#7 Comtoyou Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3) – +18.495 – 6 pts