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Historic Victory for Ayhancan Guven in DTM
In an exhilarating Sunday race at Oschersleben, Ayhancan Guven marked a significant milestone by clinching his first DTM win, making him the first Turkish driver to achieve this honor. Driving for Manthey-Porsche, his victory was attributed to a strategic masterclass that propelled him to the front following the initial mandatory pitstop.
“In my rookie year, I was consistently contending for wins and aiming for the championship,” reflected Guven, 27, who started racing in DTM in 2023. “Last season, however, was a struggle for success, which was particularly tough since I was confident in my abilities. But in motorsport, results are what matter most.”
He added, “There’s no need for excuses. Frankly, it was frustrating. The only path forward was hard work. I’m grateful for my team; we have a fantastic environment that has facilitated our continuous improvement.”
Jules Gounon, who started from pole position in his Winward-Mercedes, secured second place, while Thomas Preining delivered a strong performance to grab third, marking a solid podium finish for Manthey. Jordan Pepper, now leading the DTM standings in his Grasser-Lamborghini, narrowly missed out on a podium spot.
Racing Incidents and Safety Car Deployment
In stark contrast to Saturday’s relatively orderly race, Sunday began with significant turbulence. Gounon initially maintained his lead, closely followed by Pepper and Guven as fierce competitions erupted in the midfield.
Maro Engel found himself forced off the track by Lucas Auer early on, subsequently colliding with Mirko Bortolotti’s vehicle, resulting in smoke emanating from Engel’s Mercedes-AMG GT3. Engel soon struggled to keep up with the leading pack, losing ground in the race.
Auer, following instructions from race officials, yielded positions to Engel, Bortolotti, and Rene Rast, ultimately dropping him back in the standings.
An earlier crash involving Nicolas Baert (Comtoyou-Aston Martin) necessitated a safety car deployment after he veered off the track and collided with the barriers. The race resumed without significant incidents, allowing Auer to execute his mandatory pitstop effectively.
Pit Strategy Shakes Up the Rankings
At the front of the pack, Jordan Pepper opted for a pitstop one lap earlier than leader Gounon. However, Gounon’s Mercedes team executed a flawless stop, allowing him to maintain his position against the oncoming Grasser-Lamborghini.
Despite Gounon’s efforts, he ultimately lost the lead as Guven and Rast capitalized on the overcut strategy.
Back on the track, Rast’s luck continued to falter as he struggled on cold tires against the advancing Thomas Preining who had fresher rubber. Preining then overtook both Pepper and began applying pressure on Gounon.
While Preining significantly closed the gap to Gounon, even coming alongside after a brief contact, he ultimately couldn’t secure the pass, allowing Gounon to hold second place until the end.
“It’s a fantastic result. I’m very happy,” Preining remarked post-race. “We faced challenges in qualifying, but finishing third is a positive takeaway from what could have been a tough day.”
For DTM veteran Timo Glock, the race was less auspicious. Competing for Doerr-McLaren, he struggled from the outset and ultimately had to retire midway due to technical difficulties, exacerbated by several collisions, particularly with Tom Kalender (Landgraf-Mercedes).
“Finishing the race was not feasible; the car was simply undrivable,” Glock stated. “Competing under such conditions is counterproductive.”
Alongside Glock, Nicki Thiim was also forced to retire his Abt-Lamborghini due to a tire failure.
Jordan Pepper now leads the overall DTM standings, stating, “These races are just the beginning of a lengthy championship season. It’s been a strong weekend for us.”
The next round will take place at the Lausitzring on May 24-25, where competitors will be eager to challenge Pepper’s lead.
Source
www.autosport.com