About
The Story of Laiba Khan Lodhi
Pakistan's first female drifter. Rally driver. Entrepreneur. A woman who turned her love for speed into history.
Laiba Khan Lodhi (also known as Ayesha Khan Lodhi) is the first Pakistani professional drifter, rally driver, and entrepreneur - widely recognised as Pakistan's first female drifter. Dubbed a "drifting queen" by Social Diary Pakistan in March 2024, she went on to make history as the first Pakistani to compete and win at a professional drift event in Saudi Arabia, claiming an international drift shield and trophy at the SAWT Drift Championship in Jeddah in January 2026.
Growing up in Pakistan, Laiba developed a passion for cars and motorsport at an early age. Her interest in high-performance vehicles led her from automotive content creation to professional drifting on the international stage. She was featured on PakWheels for an owner review of a Mercedes-Benz C-Class and later documented the full restoration of a BMW E46 in a project titled "Project Massakali" - hands-on involvement with performance cars that laid the groundwork for her transition into competitive motorsport.
Her competitive debut came in February 2024 at the 19th Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally - one of Pakistan's premier off-road racing events spanning approximately 500 kilometres of desert terrain near Derawar Fort. Entering the Women Prepared category with co-driver Arghan Tahir, Laiba finished third in her very first competitive rally - with no prior practice on the course. In May 2024, she followed up at theLahore Ravi Rally Cross, further establishing her presence in Pakistani motorsport.
During 2024 and 2025, Laiba trained extensively at the Pro Drift Academy and The Drift Home in Dubai, building her technical foundation in car control, throttle balance, and the art of controlled oversteer. Her drifting career quickly expanded beyond the UAE, with competitions across Dubai, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia - all independently funded from her own pocket.
The breakthrough came in January 2026. Laiba entered the SAWT Drift Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, organised under the Saudi Ministry of Sport and Black Box SMATR Event Management. The championship ran from 9 to 17 January at a circuit opposite Red Sea Mall. She won - claiming an international drift shield and trophy, a historic first not just for herself, but for Pakistan. Following the victory, she received interest from multiple Saudi motorsport teams and relocated to Saudi Arabia to pursue further opportunities in the region's rapidly growing motorsport scene.
Beyond the track, Laiba is also the founder of Ajwa, a modest fashion brand she launched during her journey. The brand combines modesty with contemporary style, reflecting her personal identity as a hijab-wearing athlete competing on the global stage. She competes in professional motorsport while wearing the hijab - a decision she says strengthened her sense of identity and confidence, both on and off the track.
Today, Laiba continues to train and compete between Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Back home in Pakistan, she is building a BMW E46 drift car - a symbol of the next chapter in her mission. Her long-term goal: the D1 Grand Prix in Japan - widely regarded as the birthplace of professional drifting.