The Porsche Formula E team is the first team to confirm their two drivers for Rookie Test in Madrid. Both Ayhancan Güven and Elia Weiss make their return to the all-electric sport on the 22nd of March. A chance for them to gain more experience in the GEN3 Evo car and extracting data for the team.
Third Time’s the Charm
Güven is no stranger to Porsche, first working with them in 2020 as a Porsche Junior driver. The testing in Madrid will mark his third time in the electric machinery. Therefore, expanding his experience in the all-electric car. The 28-year-old will be eager to replicate his results from the 2025 Formula E Berlin Rookie Test, where he took home the second fastest lap of the day.
Over the years, the Turkish driver has built a reputation for himself in motorsports as the 2018 DTM Champion. As most of his experience lies outside of single-seater cars, transitioning into the single-seater has developed Güven more as a driver. An experience that has sharpened his driving style and labelled him as a versatile competitor.
Weiss Takes on the Porsche
Breaking the record as the youngest-ever driver to test in Formula E, Weiss returns in Madrid for his second opportunity with Porsche. Despite only being 16 years old, his appearance pays tribute to how impressive and mature he is as a driver.
Weiss began karting in 2020 at age 10, taking the traditional route into motorsports. He made his professional racing debut competing in the Formula Winter Series in Germany. Though a championship title was out of hand, the experience on the track added significantly to his development. Recently, he finished his first season in the UAE F4 Series and tallied points for himself. Weiss will be surely hungry for some on-track time in Madrid.
Foundations for Their Futures?
With the announcement of a second Porsche powered team joining the grid next season, the weekend will be important for Rookies in electric motorsport. The Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, Thomas Laudenbach, is aware that these sessions are a pathway for drivers to prove themselves within the sport. He admits, ”From the 2026/2027 season, when we will field two additional cars in Formula E, this will also open up new opportunities in that respect.’‘
As the team will need to find two more drivers for next season, Güven and Weiss should be eager to perform their best. Building a rapport this way with the team puts them at an advantage. Setting them up as the ideal candidates for a second team.
While no drivers have been confirmed yet, Laudenbach has stated Porsche’s continued support for the Turkish driver in future. He might not have enough FIA licence points to compete in Formula E, currently. Nevertheless, Porsche Vice President is hopeful for more points to come.
”In 2026, he will compete with Manthey in the FIA World Endurance Championship – where he could earn those points. So, we have a plan and are supporting Ayhancan. But it is also clear that he must continue to prove himself within the Formula E project.”
Fans should be excited to find out who vacates these new seats!
The Rookie Testing will begin on the Sunday after the CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix. Stay tuned for updates on who else will participate and how these drivers get on!