Laiba Khan Lodhi made history by winning an international trophy at Saudi Arabia’s SAWDT Drift Championship. Known for driving a customised BMW E46, she competes in high-profile events like the Cholistan Jeep Rally.
We sat down with the young racer for an exclusive interview with Daily Times.
“Being Pakistan’s first female drifter means I represent a motorsport that is all about precision, control and pushing limits. Drifting is a driving technique where the car is intentionally oversteered, causing the rear wheels to lose traction while the driver maintains full control through corners. It’s not just about speed, it’s about style, balance and how well you command the car in extreme conditions. My journey started internationally, where I trained at professional drifting academies in Dubai, including Prodrift Academy and The Drift Home. I was the first Pakistani female to take this path on an international level and then I brought that experience back to Pakistan to build my own drift project car, a BMW E46, prepared to a very high standard. I also represented Pakistan at the SAWT Saudi Drift Championship, organised under the Ministry of Sports, where I was the only female participant and received an award for my performance. For me, being Pakistan’s first female drifter is not just a title, it’s about breaking barriers, inspiring other girls and putting Pakistan on the global motorsport map,” she says.
She is a professional drifter and automotive influencer based in Pakistan.
“I began my drifting journey in Dubai, starting with ProDrift Academy, where I learned the core fundamentals of drifting like car control, throttle balance and handling oversteer. I’m still continuously learning, as drifting is a sport that evolves with experience. I later trained at The Drift Home, which was a life-changing step for me. Coming from Pakistan, where there was no female presence in drifting, I was the first one to step into this space. Women often face a lot of negativity in motorsports, but that only motivated me to push forward and break those barriers. Some of the best moments during training were when everything just clicked, the control, the confidence and the connection with the car. Even the spins and mistakes were exciting, because that’s where I learned the most,” she maintains.
Active in drifting and off-road, featuring in the Cholistan Jeep Rally and operating under the handle laibakhanlodhi101 on Instagram, she is a force to be reckoned with.
“Being the only woman at the SAWT Saudi Drift Championship, organised under the Ministry of Sports, was actually a very positive and memorable experience for me. I felt extremely comfortable there because everyone gave me so much respect and encouragement. My trainer was very confident in me, which gave me even more confidence on track. The other participants were supportive as well and it was really special because they were cheering for me, knowing I was the only female drifter representing Pakistan and one of the first women to compete at that level in Saudi. It was a very big moment for me, not just personally, but for every girl who wants to step into motorsports. Instead of feeling out of place, I felt motivated, respected and proud to be there,” she informs.
Active on social media, she shares content about automotive adventures, drifting techniques and her experiences in a male-dominated sport.
“Currently, I’m working on my drift project car, which is one of the biggest projects of my life. It’s almost complete now and I’ll be revealing it very soon in the coming days. Along with that, I have a lot of exciting things in the pipeline, new projects, collaborations and plans that I’ll be sharing very soon. This is just the beginning and there’s much more to come,” she says.
She is a trailblazer, a champion and a symbol of what happens when passion meets persistence.
“My current focus is my drift project car, the BMW E46, which is one of the biggest and most personal projects of my life. It’s built with a powerful engine and is going to be insanely fast, designed specifically for high-level drifting. I’ve worked on it very closely with my team, making sure every detail reflects my vision. I’ve been fortunate to have an incredible team supporting me, including Adeel Bhai, a well-known international professional drifter, along with my teammates Aman and Zavier. Together, we’ve built this car from the ground up with a lot of dedication and passion. We’ve sourced different parts from around the world, including the USA, Dubai and Japan to make sure the build meets international standards. The car is almost ready now and I’ll be revealing it very soon,” Laiba says.
We asked her what according to her has been her biggest achievement so far.
“My biggest achievement so far would definitely be competing in the SAWT Saudi Drift Championship, organised under the Ministry of Sports of Saudi Arabia. Representing Pakistan as the first female drifter on that platform and receiving recognition there, was a very proud and defining moment for me. Before that, I also secured a podium finish in the pro category at the Cholistan Rally, which was actually my very first race. That experience was incredibly special as well, but the Saudi championship stands out as my biggest achievement so far,” she replied.
We are all just so proud of her.