Güven and Weiss to drive in Formula E Rookie Test for Porsche

Ayhancan Güven and Elia Weiss will drive for Porsche in the Formula E Rookie Test in Berlin on the 14th of July. The test takes place the day and features 22 rookie drivers with no prior Formula E race experience. It will be 27-year-old Güven’s first outing in a Porsche factory car. Sixteen-year-old Weiss, from Munich, represents ADAC Stiftung Sport and the DMSB junior programme, both supported by Porsche.

From Sim racing Star to DTM Winner and Turkish Motorsport Icon

Since joining the Porsche junior team in 2020, Güven has risen through the ranks and now competes in the DTM with Manthey EMA. After starting his career in karting and making a name in sim racing – alongside stars like Max Verstappen – he secured his first two DTM wins this season in Oschersleben and Zandvoort, becoming a national hero in Turkey. Going so far that he earned praise from the Turkish Ministry of Sport.

His success has sparked growing interest in motorsport across the country. Güven now plays a key role in inspiring the next generation of Turkish racing talent. With the Formula E Rookie Test for Porsche in Berlin as an entirely new experience.

Germany’s Youngest Formula E Rookie Hopeful Set to Make History with Porsche

Elia Luis Weiss turns 16 just weeks before the Rookie Test in Berlin. He will be the youngest driver to take part in a Formula E event. To drive the Porsche 99X Electric, he received his international B licence from the DMSB. It allows him to compete at just 16, with proven experience in international motorsport. Weiss lives in Munich and is seen as one of Germany’s top young talents. He is part of Motorsport Team Germany, like Pascal Wehrlein once was.

The programme supports young drivers across several racing disciplines. It also includes simulator training with Porsche, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-AMG. Weiss won the 2024 German karting championship. He now races Formula 4 in Italy with Cram Motorsport.

Florian Modelinger Calls for Mandatory Rookie Test in Formula E to Unlock Young Talent

Florian Modlinger, Director of Factory Motorsport Formula E, highlighted the importance of the Rookie Test in a series with tight restrictions. “There are strict limits on budgets and test days in Formula E,” he explained, making it difficult for teams to assess new talent with no prior experience in the car. Because of the series’ “complex” energy management and “incredibly tough” mental demands, the pool of suitable drivers is small.

“There are strict limits on budgets and test days in Formula E, which is why the teams are somewhat reluctant to invest resources in drivers that they find it difficult to assess because they have never driven this kind of vehicle before.”

“However, we do need to see external drivers in our cars: The energy management is complex, which means that the mental challenges in particular are incredibly tough in Formula E. This reduces the pool of potential drivers.”

Modlinger supports making the Rookie Test mandatory, as it gives teams a rare chance to evaluate external drivers. He noted that Ayhancan Güven is a known quantity, having come through Porsche’s junior ranks and currently performing well in the DTM. As for Weiss, Modlinger praised his maturity and strong communication with engineers during a simulator session, saying, “Elia turned 16 just a few days ago, but he comes across as a much more mature racing driver.”

“So, it makes sense for the Rookie Test to be mandatory for all teams. Ayhancan was part of our own junior squad, is known to us, and is currently performing well in the DTM. Elia comes from the Motorsport Team, Germany, which is supported by Porsche Motorsport.”

“While he was a guest in our simulator, we were particularly impressed by how he interacted with the engineers. Elia turned 16 just a few days ago, but he comes across as a much more mature racing driver.”

Ayhancan Güven Embraces Formula Rookie Test as he Trades GT Rook for Open Cockpit

Ayhancan Güven sees the Formula E Rookie Test for Porsche as a “pretty unique opportunity.” Coming from a GT racing background, he’s excited to experience a single-seater for the first time. “Driving a single-seater without a roof over my head is an experience I’m really looking forward to,” he said. Güven visited the Berlin track four years ago as a spectator, so returning now as a driver feels “fantastic.” He expects the greatest challenge to be the Porsche 99X Electric’s complex systems, which are new to him.

“This is a pretty unique opportunity for me. As a driver with a GT racing background, driving a single-seater without a roof over my head is an experience I’m really looking forward to. I was at the track in Berlin four years ago – as a spectator.”

“To be able to drive there now is, of course, fantastic. The Porsche 99X Electric has a lot of systems I’m not familiar with, which will probably be the biggest challenge. The preparation takes place in the simulator in Weissach.”

Preparation takes place in the simulator at Weissach, where his sim racing experience helps him adapt quickly. “It’s easy for me to transfer my impressions of the virtual track to the real thing,” he explained. The weeks leading up to the test are intense: Güven will compete in the 24-hour races at Nürburgring and Spa, plus a DTM round at Norisring. “It’s all happening in quick succession,” he said. “And I’m giving it my all.”

“As a sim racer, however, it’s easy for me to transfer my impressions of the virtual track to the real thing as quickly as possible. These are going to be exhausting weeks: before Berlin, I’ll be competing in the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and in Spa, as well as in the DTM at the Norisring. It’s all happening in quick succession, and I’m giving it my all.”

“Insane” Opportunity with Porsche Marks Giant Leap for 16-Year-Old Talent Elia Weiss

Elia Weiss is thrilled about the chance to drive for Porsche, calling it “insane” and saying, “no doubt everyone dreams of being able to drive for Porsche.” At just 16, he sees the Rookie Test as a “huge step” and approaches it with “a lot of respect.”

“I’m incredibly proud – no doubt everyone dreams of being able to drive for Porsche! The fact that I get to do this is insane. It’s a huge step for me, which is why I have a lot of respect for it. But I’ve already practiced in the simulator in Weissach.”

His preparation began in the simulator at Weissach. Weiss quickly got comfortable with the systems and built a strong rapport with the engineers. “I felt right at home there,” he said. To be ready for the physical demands of Formula E, he’s focusing heavily on strength and fitness training. “In a Formula E car, you need a lot of strength and fitness, so I’m training particularly hard in those areas at the moment.”

“It was all really positive: I was able to get to know the systems, felt right at home there, and got on really well with the engineers. Other than that, I’m preparing myself as best I can.”

“In a Formula E car, you need a lot of strength and fitness, so I’m training particularly hard in those areas at the moment.”