Porsche plans Formula E career for Güven

Porsche confirms plan for Ayhancan Güven

Porsche has officially announced that Ayhancan Güven will be joining the Formula E works programme. During the Night of Champions in Weissach, the brand explained that Güven will be prepared for the switch to Formula E following his promotion to works driver. Porsche speaks of a clear plan and vision to have him drive in the electric series in the long term.

Güven impressed last season as DTM champion and was subsequently given a rookie test in a Formula E car on 14 July 2025 in Berlin. Without any previous significant experience in formula cars, he delivered a remarkable performance and drove at speeds that were easily comparable to drivers from formula classes.

Why 2026 will be a transitional year

It seems almost certain that Güven will not defend his DTM title in 2026. Porsche wants to prepare him for the Gen4 period of Formula E and has targeted an entry in 2027, but there are indications that he could already be involved at the end of 2026 when Porsche fields a second works team.

In order to be well prepared technically and in terms of regulations, Porsche is planning a gap year for Güven in the Langstrecken-WM (WEC). This decision was partly prompted by the cancellation of the Iron Dames project following financial problems at DC Racing. Manthey is therefore using the car that has become available and is still looking for drivers, which means that a seat is available for Güven in the LMGT3 class.

For Güven, a year in the WEC makes sense: it provides racing experience, ties in with Porsche's preparation programme and helps him collect the necessary FIA licence points for Formula E.

• Preparation: Porsche intends to train Güven and prepare him for Formula E (Gen4 period).
• Transition: 2026 appears to be a transitional year with participation in the WEC alongside Formula E preparations.
• Seat: Manthey utilises an additional Porsche due to the withdrawal of Iron Dames (DC Racing).

FIA licence points and the path to Formula E

An important reason for the WEC year is the FIA's requirement for access to Formula E. The E-licence requires 15 licence points within three years, plus at least 100 kilometres driven during an official training session or test in a current Formula E vehicle. The DTM championship earned Güven six points last season; an LMGT3 title would earn him 12 points and second place 10 points. Güven is therefore facing a crucial season in order to collect enough points.

Furthermore, Güven does not have a traditional formula background. After karting, he took a five-year career break and later worked his way up through the Porsche classes. This makes his rapid adaptation during the Formula E rookie test all the more remarkable and explains why Porsche is willing to follow a different, planned trajectory.

In practical terms, this means that Güven will have a transitional year in which experience, licence requirements and Porsche's timing for the Gen4 period come together. Whether and when exactly the step to the full Formula E programme will follow depends on those steps and on developments within Porsche.