DTM champion Ayhancan Güven has announced that he will not return to the German-based series in 2026, in a statement posted to social media earlier today.
The recently anointed Porsche factory driver clinched his maiden DTM drivers’ championship in dramatic fashion at October’s Hockenhiemring season finale, with the 27-year-old passing Marco Wittmann for the lead on the final lap of the race to secure the title.
We now know that this was also Güven’s final lap in the DTM for the foreseeable future, as the Turkish driver joins three-time champion René Rast in stepping away from the DTM ahead of next year.
Güven spent three full seasons racing Porsches in the DTM, the first with KÜS Team Bernhard and more recently with Manthey, following a successful one-off appearance aboard an AF Corse Ferrari at the Norisring in 2022.
“I will not be on the DTM grid in 2026,” Güven stated on social media.
“This championship was my childhood dream, something I worked toward for many years, and I am ending an incredible season by taking the title and seeing all my efforts pay off.
“It has not been an easy decision to step away from this championship. I still remember the excitement of my very first DTM race. With a single race opportunity in a car I had never driven before, I managed to prove myself and earned a full-time seat the following year. That chance led to three wonderful years and ultimately to becoming DTM Champion, a true dream story. Thank you all for your support throughout this journey.”
Güven also offered a tease as to what his first season as a Porsche factory driver will involve:
“As for what comes next, I will now be taking on new and exciting challenges in 2026. What exactly? You will find out tomorrow!”
The 2026 FIA WEC entry list is expected tomorrow but Güven may too have Formula E in his future, a move that was teased heavily in last week’s Porsche Night of Champions
Image © Porsche AG
