With DTM champion Ayhancan Güven – Absolute Racing field a strong Porsche trio

Absolute Racing, the Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific customer team, has announced a second Pro line-up for next month’s Suzuka 1000 km race: Porsche drivers Ayhancan Güven, Dorian Boccolacci and Alessandro Ghiretti will line up together in the team’s No. 7 Porsche 911 GT3 R.

All three drivers are familiar with the Shanghai-based team, having previously competed for the outfit at various events in recent years.

The reigning DTM champion, Ayhancan Güven, competed for Absolute Racing at the 2025 Bathurst 12-Hour race and finished sixth on the challenging Mount Panorama Circuit. 

Former ‘Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver’ Dorian Boccolacci also raced for the team at the 2024 Sepang 12-Hour Race, where he finished second on the podium.

Completing the trio is the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion, Alessandro Ghiretti, who is racing for the team alongside Huang Ruohan in the GT World Challenge Asia this season. The pair currently lead the drivers’ standings, having secured one victory and two further podium finishes across the first three race weekends of 2026.

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This event is the fourth round on the 2026 Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar, with Porsche leading the manufacturers’ championship heading into the final two races. It is Absolute Racing’s second race in this year’s series, having finished sixth in the season-opening 12 Hours of Bathurst in February.

The No. 7 Porsche 911 GT3 R will feature a special livery, the design of which will be unveiled in due course.

The team’s car, bearing start number 7, is Porsche’s second Pro-class car at this event and complements the previously announced entry from AO by Absolute, bearing start number 8, in which Laurin Heinrich, Alessio Picariello and Julien Andlauer will compete in the legendary endurance race. 

Ayhancan Güven, Absolute Racing: “I’m really looking forward to competing for Absolute Racing at this year’s Suzuka 1000 km. Racing there has always been a dream of mine, so I’m incredibly excited to experience the circuit for the first time. With Porsche, we have a strong car, an excellent team and a competitive driver line-up – so our aim is to be in the running for victory.”

Dorian Boccolacci, Absolute Racing: “I’m really looking forward to being back with Absolute Racing and competing in the Suzuka 1,000 km this time. My first experience in Asia and at the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 R came with the team at the 2024 Sepang 12-Hour Race. I’ll always be grateful for that, so it’s something very special to be returning for such a legendary event. Suzuka is an incredible circuit with plenty of character; it’s very technical and demanding – a track that every driver enjoys. We have a strong driver line-up, a very experienced team of engineers and mechanics, and I’m confident we have everything we need to compete at the very front. I also love travelling to Japan, as the culture and passion for motorsport there are incredible. It’s always a pleasure to race in front of the fans, and I’m looking forward to being part of this legendary endurance race once again.”

Alessandro Ghiretti, Absolute Racing: “I’m very proud and happy to be competing in this year’s Suzuka 1000 km race with Absolute Racing. I know the circuit well and enjoyed my time there during the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season, where I managed to secure two wins that weekend. With Ayhancan and Dorian as my team-mates, I know a strong result is possible. A huge thank you to the team for giving me this incredible opportunity, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Fabien Fior, Director, Absolute Racing: “We are delighted to be fielding two top-class Porsche cars in one of the world’s most legendary endurance races. The level of competition will be extremely high, but we have every confidence in the strength of our team and our driver line-up. We’ve worked with Alessandro, Ayhancan and Dorian before, so we know what they’re capable of and are confident they have the talent, experience and determination to fight for a strong result. We are looking forward to taking on this challenge and giving it our all to compete at the very front of the field.”

Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director of Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd.: “We are delighted to announce a second entry in the Pro class with Absolute Racing at the 2026 Suzuka 1000 km race. The line-up for the car with start number 7 – featuring Ayhancan, Dorian and Alessandro – is very competitive, as all three have already driven for the team in previous seasons. Absolute impressed at the endurance race’s return last year, securing second and fourth places in the overall standings alongside the Bronze Cup. With these two competitive line-ups, we will be aiming for strong results at next month’s event.”