Switched reluctance motor with a driver circuit comprising - a DC voltage source for providing a supply voltage (U DC), - an inverter circuit, comprising a number of parallel-connected phase windings (20a, 20b, 20c) of the motor with a respective first switching element (22a, 22b, 22c), said number corresponding to the number of motor phases, - a C discharging circuit, by means of which the respective phase winding (20a, 20b, 20c) is dischargeable to a first capacitor via a first freewheeling diode (56a, 56b, 56c) in the case of an open first switching element (22a, 22b, 22c), the first freewheeling diode (56a, 56b, 56c) being connected to a first terminal of the first capacitor, - a step-up converter circuit for up-converting the supply voltage (U DC) at a first terminal of a second capacitor, wherein during operation the up-converted voltage (U DC ') at the second capacitor is regulated on the basis of a control signal (U ref) corresponding to a rotational speed of the reluctance motor, and wherein a second terminal of the first capacitor is connected to the first terminal of the second capacitor, - a second freewheeling diode connected between an output of the step-up converter and a common connection node of the phase windings (20a, 20b, 20c) of the inverter circuit, and - a second switching element, wherein the second switching element is electrically conductively coupled to the first terminal of the first capacitor connected to the first freewheeling diodes (56a, 56b, 56c), on the one hand, and to a connection node of the second freewheeling diode with the common connection node of the phase windings (20a, 20b, 20c) of the inverter circuit on the other hand, wherein, upon an actuation of the second switching element, the capacitors (62, 64) are dischargeable directly to the phase winding (20a, 20b, 20c). - a DC voltage source for providing a supply voltage (U DC), - an inverter circuit, comprising a number of parallel-connected phase windings (20a, 20b, 20c) of the motor with a respective first switching element (22a, 22b, 22c), said number corresponding to the number of motor phases, - a C discharging circuit, by means of which the respective phase winding (20a, 20b, 20c) is dischargeable to a first capacitor via a first freewheeling diode (56a, 56b, 56c) in the case of an open first switching element (22a, 22b, 22c), the first freewheeling diode (56a, 56b, 56c) being connected to a first terminal of the first capacitor, - a step-up converter circuit for up-converting the supply voltage (U DC) at a first terminal of a second capacitor, wherein during operation the up-converted voltage (U DC ') at the second capacitor is regulated on the basis of a control signal (U ref) corresponding to a rotational speed of the reluctance motor, and wherein a second terminal of the first capacitor is connected to the first terminal of the second capacitor, - a second freewheeling diode connected between an output of the step-up converter and a common connection node of the phase windings (20a, 20b, 20c) of the inverter circuit, and - a second switching element, wherein the second switching element is electrically conductively coupled to the first terminal of the first capacitor connected to the first freewheeling diodes (56a, 56b, 56c), on the one hand, and to a connection node of the second freewheeling diode with the common connection node of the phase windings (20a, 20b, 20c) of the inverter circuit on the other hand, wherein, upon an actuation of the second switching element, the capacitors (62, 64) are dischargeable directly to the phase winding (20a, 20b, 20c).