DTM Hockenheimring: Ayhancan Güven Crowned 2025 Champion After Last-Lap Thriller

Ayhancan Güven, driving the #90 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R, became the 2025 DTM Champion after winning the final race of the season at the Hockenheimring. The Turkish driver showed calmness, speed, and smart decision-making in a chaotic race to secure his first DTM title. It was a perfect ending to a long and competitive season that saw seven drivers still in contention for the championship going into the finale.

Early drama

The finale began with huge tension as all contenders lined up for the last 60-minute showdown. The race quickly turned dramatic with several collisions in the opening laps. One of the early victims was René Rast (#33 Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3). The three-time DTM champion was caught in a chain reaction at the hairpin when Ben Green (#10 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3) made contact, followed by Thierry Vermeulen (#69 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari) hitting him again. The impact broke Rast’s right-front suspension and forced him to retire.

The drama continued as Green also suffered damage after being hit earlier by Jules Gounon (#48 Mercedes-AMG MANN-FILTER). The collision pushed Green into Rast, ending both of their races. Race control later gave Gounon a one-lap penalty for causing the crash at Turn 6.

Elsewhere, Arjun Maini (#36 Team HRT Ford Mustang) received a three-lap penalty for contact with Timo Glock (#16 Dorr Motorsport McLaren). The stewards stayed busy, with more penalties handed to Jack Aitken (#14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari) and Jordan Pepper (#63 TGI Team Lamborghini) for overtaking under yellow flags.

Güven keeps his cool

Amid the chaos, Güven remained focused. After the first pit-stop phase, he rejoined in the lead, narrowly staying ahead of Marco Wittmann (#11 Schubert Motorsport BMW) and Maro Engel (#24 Mercedes-AMG Team Winward). His stop wasn’t perfect, but smart timing and consistent pace allowed him to maintain position.

The race was briefly neutralised when Gilles Magnus (#7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin) stopped on track with a puncture, bringing out the Safety Car. Güven’s comfortable gap was erased, yet he handled the restart perfectly and kept control at the front.

As the laps went by, Wittmann tried to close the gap, with Engel following closely in third. Behind them, other title contenders like Aitken and Pepper struggled with penalties and traffic. On the final lap, Wittmann made a daring attempt to take the lead, briefly pulling ahead of Güven in the stadium section. The two banged doors in a tough but fair fight, and Güven managed to squeeze back ahead before the final corner to reclaim the top spot. Through clean and confident driving, he managed the pressure all the way to the finish line.

A champion is crowned

When the chequered flag waved, Güven crossed the finish line first, securing both the race win and the 2025 DTM Championship. Wittmann finished second, giving BMW a strong end to the season, while Engel completed the podium for Mercedes-AMG coming from 15th on the grid and securing third in the championship. Fourth place went to Lucas Auer (#22 Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf), crossing the line just behind the by then already black-flagged Jordan Pepper, who had ignored the earlier penalty given for overtaking under yellow. Had Wittmann won the race, following Jordan Pepper’s disqualification, Auer would have taken the title by just a single point. Fifth was Tom Kalender (#84 Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf), rounding out a strong result for Landgraf Motorsport.

The Turkish driver’s victory marked a historic moment for Manthey EMA and for Güven himself, becoming the first Turkish driver to win the DTM title.

End of a thrilling season

The Hockenheim finale capped one of the most competitive DTM seasons in years. Eight drivers arrived with a chance at the title, and the weekend delivered high drama. Lucas Auer’s trademark consistency nearly paid off, but his steady approach wasn’t enough against Güven’s decisive victory.

Aggression defined the final race. Jack Aitken and Jordan Pepper received penalties for overtaking under yellow and were later disqualified for ignoring the black flag, showing how far contenders were willing to push. Even Marco Wittmann, no longer in the title fight after Saturday’s Race 1, went all out for the win on Sunday, pressuring Güven to the limit. Engel’s fighting spirit brought him third place on the podium and in the championship. Despite a bleak starting position and zero wins in 2025, Engel never gave up and was rewarded for it.

In the end, Güven’s blend of control and courage sealed a historic triumph for Manthey EMA and made him a deserving champion of a fiercely fought season.