Ayhancan Guven took his second victory of the 2025 DTM season in Zandvoort, in chaotic and wet circumstances.
The Manthey Porsche driver saved his composure regardless of difficult circumstances, avoiding errors and triumphing forward of Nicki Thiim (Abt Lamborghini) and Maximilian Paul (Paul Lamborghini), who each reached the rostrum due to a daring tyre technique.
“That was mega, I am so completely happy,” Guven exclaimed after the race in an interview with ran. “It was a loopy race at this time. I acquired off to an excellent begin and battled with Luca [Engstler], then we had a extremely good pitstop. The technique was glorious too, however given the circumstances, it was undoubtedly strolling a positive line.”
“I am actually grateful we have taken such a giant step ahead in comparison with final yr. That might have been unimaginable with out the staff,” the Turkish driver added. “I am happy with what we have achieved collectively, and of the private progress I’ve made.”
The monitor was damp initially of the race, with solely three drivers playing on slicks. Polesitter Jordan Pepper (Grasser Lamborghini) efficiently maintained the lead, whereas his team-mate Luca Engstler barely pushed Maro Engel off the monitor, dropping the latter to fourth behind Guven with no additional motion from race management.
Thiim, Paul and Nicolas Baert, on slicks, misplaced 30 seconds to the leaders within the first 5 laps, however Paul later set the quickest lap up to now, with their gamble paying off.
Amid retirement for McLaren driver Timo Glock on account of contact with Gilles Magnus (Comtoyou Aston Martin), the slick-tyre racers have been 5 seconds a lap quicker. Their rivals waited for the official pit window to open, besides Engel, who stopped one lap too early on account of suspected radio miscommunication – this successfully was a drive-through as he was unable to vary tyres.
Timo Glock, Dörr Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Evo
Picture by: Alexander Trienitz
Chaos ensued with so many vehicles within the pitlane; Engstler clipped a unfastened tyre from Rene Rast, with a BMW mechanic stumbling unhurt. There have been a number of different contacts and incidents.
Polesitter Pepper delayed his pitstop to keep away from the crowded pitlane, however his tyre change was gradual and he misplaced the lead. In the meantime, a quick bathe caught Rast out, with a head-on crash at Flip 1.
Amongst drivers who began on slicks, Thiim stopped later than Guven, who then snatched the lead from his rival due to his warmed-up tyres. Rast crashed once more on account of earlier injury, however even the next security automobile intervention didn’t jeopardize a assured Guven’s victory.
Behind Guven, Thiim and Paul, Engstler took fourth, main Auer and native hero Morris Schuring within the third Manthey Porsche. Marco Wittmann impressively fought from twentieth to seventh in his Schubert BMW, adopted by Pepper, Mirko Bortolotti and Engel.
Auer nonetheless leads the standings, with Guven trailing him by 11 factors and Pepper by 14. The second race of the weekend will happen at 4:30pm native time tomorrow because of the schedule being adjusted for the Le Mans 24 Hours take a look at day, with Rast on pole place.
Photographs DTM Zandvoort – Saturday
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