DTM champion tested Porsche Formula E car
Ayhancan Guven is in the spotlight. The Turkish driver recently became DTM champion. He impressed during a rookie test with the Porsche 99X Electric.
Guven only started his career at 19 in the national Porsche Carrera Cup. He has no experience in single-seaters. Nevertheless, he drove to second place in the test at Tempelhof at the end of the day.
Striking test results
His fastest lap was 57.654 seconds. That was 0.204 seconds faster than Pascal Wehrlein's fastest lap on the previous day. Track conditions were more favourable on the test day, though. Still, his pace surprised many engineers.
Porsche engineers especially praised his natural feel and the quality of his technical feedback. He remained faster than some drivers with much single-seater background, such as Jak Crawford, Frederik Vesti and Theo Pourchaire.
Why Porsche would be interested
Florian Modlinger, responsible for Porsche in Formula E, explains what he looks out for. First, he looks at a driver's background. Then he assesses driving style and adaptability. The latter is decisive.
Modlinger cites examples of drivers who switched well between disciplines. Think of Rene Rast, Gary Paffett, Nico Müller and Robin Frijns. Mattias Ekström was another example of someone who could quickly switch between a variety of cars.
What Guven shows
Guven appeared to quickly get used to the simulator and the electric car during the rookie test. That is exactly what Modlinger wants to see in potential switchers. Moreover, Guven showed great racing skills in the DTM in 2025. His bold overtaking move on Marco Wittmann earned him the title at Hockenheim.
Which is another barrier
Formula E requires more than just driving fast. The car requires a lot of attention to systems and functions during the race. Energy management is crucial. Constant communication with the engineer and quick car adjustments are also important.
Modlinger warns that these extra tasks can make or break races and careers. So a driver must not only be able to drive at the limit. He must also have mental space to oversee all systems and make decisions.
- Adaptability to new cars and simulators
- Careful technical feedback to engineers
- Smart energy management during the race
- Good communication and strategic insight
- Mentality to quickly handle multiple issues at once
Opportunities and constraints
There is a chance that Guven will have a role in Formula E during the Gen4 period, from the end of 2026. However, Porsche has already shown commitment to Nico Müller in the Gen4 developments. That makes direct moves more difficult.
Still, Guven's test performance is telling. If he wants to switch and maintains the same learning curve, a spot in Formula E is not inconceivable. His combination of racing talent and adaptability gives him a real chance.
Summary: Guven has the speed and adaptability to be seriously considered. But the transition also requires technical understanding and race management skills. Only then can he drive Formula E at top level.
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