Arshia Akhtar is Pakistan’s first woman to earn a professional racing license from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), breaking barriers in motorsports while simultaneously maintaining a distinguished career as a clinical cancer researcher specializing in hepatocellular carcinoma detection.

EARLY YEARS

Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Arshia was raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where her fascination with speed began at age eleven. That’s when she first got behind the wheel—go-karting with her father, who introduced her to the thrill of racing[1]. It wasn’t a casual hobby. From those early laps, she was hooked, and the seed was planted for what would become a groundbreaking racing career.

Her upbringing in Saudi Arabia, a region not exactly known for championing female racers, didn’t deter her. If anything, it sharpened her resolve. She understood early on that pursuing motorsports as a Pakistani woman meant she’d be charting territory few had dared to explore. But Akhtar wasn’t interested in playing it safe. She was interested in going fast.

Education was equally important in the Akhtar household. She attended the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), earning her degree before moving to the United States to pursue advanced studies[2]. Her academic path led her to clinical research, where she would eventually specialize in cancer detection—a field as demanding and precise as racing itself.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the racetrack and the research lab, Akhtar is a woman of remarkable balance. Her work in clinical cancer research focuses on hepatocellular carcinoma detection, a field that requires the same analytical sharpness and attention to detail that she brings to motorsports[1][3]. She’s published research and contributed to advancements in cancer diagnostics, proving that her intellect is just as formidable as her driving skills.

It’s not often you meet someone who can discuss tumor markers one day and chassis setup the next, but Akhtar manages both with ease. Her dual careers aren’t just impressive—they’re a testament to her refusal to be boxed into one identity. She’s a scientist. She’s a racer. And she’s excelling at both.

EARLY SUCCESS

Akhtar’s transition from go-karting enthusiast to professional racing driver began in earnest when she moved to Texas and started competing in amateur racing events. She didn’t waste time. She enrolled in racing schools, earned her competition licenses, and began working her way through the ranks of American motorsports[4].

Her first major milestone came when she obtained her FIA professional racing license, making her the first Pakistani woman to achieve this feat[1][5]. This wasn’t just a personal victory—it was a historic moment for Pakistan, a country where women’s participation in motorsports remains virtually nonexistent. Akhtar didn’t just crack the door open; she kicked it down.

She competed in various formula racing series across the United States, including events sanctioned by Formula Race Promotions (FRP) and the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA)[6][7]. Her performances were competitive, earning her podium finishes and respect from fellow competitors who quickly learned she wasn’t there to make up the numbers. She was there to race.

In 2024, Akhtar also participated in the Porsche Female Driver Program North America, an initiative designed to support and develop female racing talent[8]. The program provided her with additional track time, mentorship, and exposure to higher levels of competition—resources that have proven invaluable in her development as a driver.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2023: Became Pakistan’s first woman to earn a professional FIA racing license[1][5].
• 2024: Competed in Formula Race Promotions series, earning multiple podium finishes[6].
• 2024: Participated in the Porsche Female Driver Program North America[8].
• 2024: Raced at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, securing top finishes in competitive fields[7].
• 2024: Competed at Road America, continuing to build her reputation in open-wheel racing[9].
• Ongoing: Published clinical research on hepatocellular carcinoma detection, contributing to advancements in cancer diagnostics[3].

INSPIRATIONS

Akhtar credits her father as her earliest and most influential supporter. He was the one who took her go-karting at eleven, igniting a passion that would define much of her life[1]. His encouragement gave her the foundation to believe she could compete in a sport dominated by men, and in a region of the world where women’s participation in motorsports is still met with resistance.

She’s also been vocal about the lack of female representation in motorsports, particularly in South Asia. Rather than be discouraged by the absence of role models who looked like her, Akhtar decided to become one. She’s driven—pun intended—by the idea that her success can open doors for the next generation of Pakistani and South Asian women who dream of racing.

REPUTATION

Akhtar has earned a reputation as a serious competitor who brings both speed and consistency to the track. Her fellow racers respect her not because of the novelty of being Pakistan’s first female professional driver, but because she’s proven she belongs in the field. She’s fast, she’s strategic, and she doesn’t back down from wheel-to-wheel battles[6][7].

Off the track, she’s become a symbol of possibility. Media outlets in Pakistan and beyond have covered her journey extensively, recognizing her as a trailblazer who’s redefining what’s possible for women in her country[1][5][10]. She’s been featured in interviews, podcasts, and racing publications, where she speaks candidly about the challenges of breaking into motorsports as a woman from a conservative background.

What’s particularly striking about Akhtar is her refusal to be defined solely by her gender or nationality. Yes, she’s the first Pakistani woman with an FIA license, but she’s also a talented driver and accomplished researcher. She doesn’t lean on her “first” status as a crutch—she uses it as a platform to prove that women from underrepresented regions can compete at the highest levels.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Akhtar has made it clear she’s not done yet. She’s actively pursuing opportunities to compete at higher levels of open-wheel racing, with aspirations to continue climbing the motorsports ladder in North America and potentially internationally[4][10]. Her participation in development programs like the Porsche Female Driver Program suggests she’s positioning herself for more advanced racing series in the coming years.

Beyond her personal racing ambitions, she’s committed to advocacy for women in motorsports, particularly in Pakistan and South Asia. She’s spoken about her desire to inspire young girls in her home country to pursue racing, and to help create pathways that didn’t exist when she was starting out[1][5]. Whether through mentorship, media presence, or simply continuing to compete at a high level, Akhtar is determined to make sure she’s not the last Pakistani woman to race professionally—just the first.

She’s also balancing her racing career with her work in clinical research, a juggling act that would overwhelm most people. But Akhtar has proven she thrives under pressure, whether it’s analyzing cancer data or navigating a high-speed chicane. Her future is wide open, and if her track record is any indication, she’ll continue to break barriers in both fields.

REFERENCES

Pakistan’s First Female Race Car Driver Makes History
LUMS Alumni Annual 2009
Clinical Research on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Detection
Interview with Arshia Akhtar
Pakistan’s First Woman Racer Breaks Ground in Global Motorsport
Formula Race Promotions Crowns Multiple First-Time Podium Finishers
SCCA Time Trials National Tour at Pitt Race
How the Porsche Female Driver Program North America Supports Female Talent
FRP Features Multiple Close Finishes at Road America
Woman Spotlight Wednesday: Arshia Akhtar