Laiba Khan Lodhi Wins SAWT Drift Championship in Jeddah

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — January 2026. In a moment that will be remembered as a watershed in Pakistani motorsport, Laiba Khan Lodhi has become the first Pakistani woman to compete in — and win — at a professional drift event in Saudi Arabia.

Competing at the SAWT Drift Championship in Jeddah, Laiba earned an international drift shield and trophy, placing herself among the very small number of women globally who have achieved success at this level of professional drifting.

The Significance

Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of the world's premier motorsport destinations. The kingdom hosts Formula 1, Formula E, and an increasingly competitive drift scene that attracts drivers from across the globe. For a Pakistani woman to not only enter this arena but to earn a podium finish represents a historic breakthrough.

"This isn't just for me," Laiba reflected after the event. "This is for every girl in Pakistan who has been told that certain spaces aren't meant for her. I want them to know: the only limit is the one you accept."

The Journey to Jeddah

Laiba's path to the SAWT Championship began long before the event itself. After competing in the Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally in 2024, she traveled to Dubai to train at the Pro Drift Academy, one of the region's most respected training facilities. Months of intensive work on car control, throttle balance, and drift technique prepared her for the international stage.

The SAWT Championship brought together professional drifters from across the Middle East and beyond. Laiba was the only Pakistani woman in the field — a fact that added both pressure and purpose to her performance.

On the Track

Professional drifting is judged on multiple criteria: angle, speed, line accuracy, and style. Drivers must maintain a controlled sideways slide through designated zones, hitting clipping points while keeping their drift fluid and aggressive. A single miscalculation — too much throttle, too little counter-steer — can end a run instantly.

Laiba delivered a performance that combined technical precision with unmistakable confidence. Her runs were clean, committed, and fast — earning her the respect of fellow competitors and the judges alike.

A Trophy for Pakistan

When Laiba stood on the podium holding the international drift shield and trophy, she was holding more than hardware. She was holding proof — proof that talent, dedication, and courage can override any barrier, any stereotype, any doubt.

The win places Laiba Khan Lodhi in a category of her own in Pakistani motorsport history. She is the first. But if her mission succeeds, she will not be the last.

What's Next

Laiba continues to train and compete between Saudi Arabia and Dubai, with multiple international events on her calendar. Back in Pakistan, she is building a BMW E46 drift car — a project that represents both her competitive ambitions and her goal of growing the drifting culture in her home country.

The trophy is won. The history is made. But the road ahead is just beginning.

Follow Laiba on Instagram for live updates from her competitions.