Turkish racing driver Ayhancan Güven is one of the athletes representing Türkiye in international motorsport. He was born on 2 January 1998 in Istanbul. At an early age, under the guidance of his father Hakan Güven, he began karting and quickly emerged as a standout talent.

Ayhancan Güven (AA)

Early Life and Karting Career

Ayhancan Güven developed his interest in motorsport during childhood. Even before he could reach the pedals, he was driving karting cars with his father’s assistance. He made his racing debut in 2004 and won the Istanbul Karting Championship in 2005. In 2006, he finished second in Petrol Ofisi’s “25 Little Men” project. He achieved significant results in the Turkish Karting Championship in 2007 and 2010, and gained international experience by finishing third in the Italian Karting Championship in 2011.

In 2013 he won the Trofeo Grifone Championship, and in 2014 he claimed victory in the Turkish Karting Endurance Championship. These achievements positioned him well for the transition to circuit racing.

Transition to Circuit Racing and Rise

In 2015 Ayhancan Güven moved from karting to circuit racing. That same year he became champion in the Volkicar V2 Challenge. In 2016 he won first place in the Race of Champions, organized by the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED).

Starting in 2017, he competed in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux series and earned the title of “Rookie of the Year.” The 2018 season marked a major turning point in his career. That year he won championships in the Porsche Carrera Cup France, Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, and the 6 Ore Di Roma race. He also secured victory in the FIA GT Nations Cup.

International Success and the Porsche Era

In 2019 Ayhancan Güven won the Porsche Junior Shootout. That same year he finished second overall in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and earned the “Rookie of the Year” award. He also claimed the Porsche Carrera Cup France championship.

In the 2020 season he finished third in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and second in the Porsche Carrera Cup France. In 2021 he placed second in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland and third in the Porsche Supercup. In 2022 he finished second in the ADAC GT Masters series. In 2023 he won the championship in the LMP2 category of the Asian Le Mans Series.

In the 2024 season he finished second at the Nürburgring 24 Hours and won first place at the Bathurst 12 Hours. That same year he won a gold medal in the GT Sprint category at the FIA Motorsport Games.

DTM Career and Historic Championship

Ayhancan Güven began competing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) series in 2022, driving a Porsche 911 GT3-R for the Manthey EMA team. In the 2025 season, he became the first Turkish driver to win the DTM championship, securing victory in the second leg of the final race at the Hockenheim circuit.

With just six minutes remaining in the race, a safety car was deployed, yet Güven maintained his pace and held onto the lead. He crossed the finish line first under the checkered flag, finishing ahead of Marco Wittmann and Maro Engel to clinch the title. This victory was recorded as a historic first in Turkish motorsport history.

2025 German DTM (AA)

Sim Racing and Digital Achievements

Ayhancan Güven placed great emphasis on sim racing from the start of his career. At age 15 he finished second worldwide among one million players in the Gran Turismo video game. In 2020 he won the Virtual Le Mans GTE class, in 2021 he became VCO Pro SIM champion, and between 2022 and 2023 he won the Virtual Le Mans Series championship.

His experience in sim racing contributed significantly to the development of his strategic thinking and competitive reflexes on the real track.

Personal Life and Role in Türkiye

Ayhancan Güven serves as a factory driver for Porsche and is the only Turkish driver classified in the “Gold” category under the FIA driver classification system. He has aimed to serve as a role model for young Turkish athletes in the development of motorsport culture in Türkiye. Following his championship victories, he has consistently emphasized the need for greater national attention and support for motorsport.

Outside the track, he leads a modest life and frequently expresses his passion for motorsport and his desire to promote racing culture across Türkiye.

Ayhancan Güven has achieved numerous national and international successes throughout his career, progressing from karting to top-tier series such as the Porsche Supercup, ADAC GT Masters, and DTM. His 2025 DTM championship represents a landmark achievement both in his personal career and in the history of Turkish motorsport. As a Porsche- and Red Bull-supported driver, he continues to represent Türkiye on the international stage.

Ayhancan Güven (AA)