Could a bold career leap be on the horizon for motorsport's rising star? Ayhancan Guven, the newly crowned DTM champion, is making waves with a potential switch to Formula E—a move that's as intriguing as it is unexpected. But here's where it gets controversial: Guven has zero single-seater experience, yet he's already turning heads in the electric racing world. How is this possible?
In recent months, the motorsport landscape has seen surprising transitions, like Colton Herta's move to Formula 2 and Kalle Rovanpera's shift to Super Formula. Guven's journey, however, stands out as a multi-layered narrative. Starting his career at 19 in the Porsche Carrera Cup, he's now testing the waters in a realm dominated by drivers with extensive single-seater backgrounds. And this is the part most people miss: during his first simulator test with Porsche earlier this year, Guven wasn't just keeping up—he was excelling.
Given a test seat in Pascal Wehrlein’s Porsche 99X Electric FE car at Tempelhof, Guven defied expectations. He finished second overall, outpacing drivers like Jak Crawford, Frederik Vesti, and Theo Pourchaire, who boast significant Formula E testing and F1 ladder experience. His 57.654s lap was even 0.204s quicker than Wehrlein’s fastest qualifying time from the previous day, albeit under more favorable track conditions. But it wasn’t just his speed that impressed—Porsche engineers were astounded by his natural feel for the car and his ability to provide insightful feedback.
Guven’s 2023 racing form was equally sensational, highlighted by his daring, title-winning overtake on Marco Wittmann at Hockenheim. This all-or-nothing move cemented his DTM championship and sparked questions: Could Guven be the next big name to straddle multiple disciplines? The Race posed this question to Porsche’s Formula E Director, Florian Modlinger, whose response was both insightful and cautious.
“You have to look at the individual athletes first,” Modlinger explained. “What’s their background? Their driving style? Do they adapt to the car, or does the car adapt to them? These are the key questions. I’ve worked with all-rounders like Rene Rast, who transitioned from [Carrera] Cup cars to Formula E, and Mattias Ekstrom, a master of adapting to rallycross and Dakar cars. The ability to adjust to new environments is crucial, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all skill.”
Guven’s adaptability is undeniable, and it’s a trait Modlinger values highly when evaluating drivers. “I focus on how quickly a driver can adapt to a simulator and then to a new car during a rookie test,” he added. Guven aced these tests, but does that make him a perfect fit for Formula E’s Gen4 era, starting in 2026? With Porsche already committed to Nico Mueller for Gen4 development, Guven’s path might be challenging—but not impossible.
However, the hype comes with a warning. Formula E isn’t just about pushing a car to its limits. It demands constant communication with engineers, precise adjustments, and masterful energy management. “When you’re racing on the edge, you need brainpower to handle everything else the car throws at you,” Modlinger noted. Is Guven ready for this unique challenge?
While Modlinger remains cautiously optimistic, Guven’s rookie test performance and his DTM title with Manthey Porsche suggest he’s on the cusp of something extraordinary. But the real question is: Can he conquer Formula E’s complexities, or will they become his Achilles’ heel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—do you think Guven has what it takes, or is this move too bold for his own good?
