Yara Lotfy There is a particular discipline required to live at racing speed. For Ibrahim Badawi, that discipline has shaped his journey from karting in Egypt to becoming an Egyptian racing driver competing on the international motorsport stage with Ferrari. His career reflects years of dedication to racing, motorsport, and high-performance driving, turning a childhood passion for race cars into a professional pursuit.
In an exclusive conversation with Flair Magazine, Ibrahim Badawi opens up about his journey in international racing and motorsport, the challenges of building a career as an Egyptian driver, the pressure of competition, and the lessons he has learned both on and off the track. From his early days in karting and Formula 4 to racing with Ferrari, Badawi continues to set his sights on the highest levels of global motorsport.
1. Take us back to the beginningโwhen did your fascination with racing first become more than just a passion and turn into something you wanted to pursue professionally?
Racing for me was always a passion since I was young. I was karting locally with my relatives, at 14 I started off-roading in the desert and I competed in some local offroad races and won. Thatโs when I felt like I wanted to take this a couple steps higher so I flew out to Dubai and started karting there to learn more about circuit racing. When I started karting, I realized how much potential I have and thatโs when I told myself Iโll try to take this sport to the highest level.
2. What was your first experience behind the wheel, and when did you realise that racing could actually become your career?
My first experience behind the wheel was in a Formula 4 car, and it was a dream come true. I had dreamed of driving a race car since I was a child, so finally getting behind the wheel felt like I had accomplished a major dream of mine. My first experience driving a GT race car, on the other hand, was completely insane. At just 17, I found myself behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Super Trofeo, experiencing a level of power I had never encountered before. It was unlike anything I had ever driven.
3. How supportive was your family when you decided to pursue motorsport, especially given the challenges of building a racing career from Egypt?
My parents have been incredibly supportive from day one. They saw the commitment and fire in my eyes, and how relentlessly I pursued my goals every day. At the time, no one in Egypt had the contacts or connections to take me where I wanted to go in motorsport
4. You made history by becoming the first Egyptian driver to win a European championship and win international Races. What does that achievement mean to you personally? When did you first realize that you weren’t just competing for a championship, but potentially making history for Egyptian and Arab motorsport? What do you think this championship says about the level of Egyptian talent in motorsport?ย
Winning a championship in Europe meant a lot to me, especially being the first Egyptian to win an international motorsport race and achieving it with one of the biggest names in motorsport, Ferrari. I want people to see this and feel inspired. I want them to know that itโs not impossible. When you see a path that was once unclear becoming clearly paved, it becomes easier for others to follow
5. You became the first Egyptian to practice in Formula 4. What did that milestone mean to you personally?
The experience of formula 4 was a crucial step and a bridge for me to go from karting into the very powerful GT race cars that I currently drive, and it taught me a lot.
6. Moving from karting and single-seater racing into more advanced categories requires a completely different level of preparation. How did you adapt?
I adapted by working extremely hard and always putting myself in the right circles that could push me forward. My dad always told me that if I wanted to reach a high level, I needed to be in the right place, and the right place means having the right surroundings. So, my goal was always to surround myself with the right people.
7. Motorsport is as much psychological as it is physical. How have you learned to manage pressure, mistakes and the expectations that come with representing Egypt internationally?ย
I always welcome pressure. I never allow it to become something that limits me. Instead, I turn that pressure into something positive, something that pushes me to get more out of myself when Iโm on the track.
8. What has racing taught you about yourself that you don’t think you could have learned anywhere else?ย
Racing taught me patience on a level I had never imagined. Sometimes, itโs not just a bad day, week or even month, you can go an entire year without seeing the results youโre working for. Then, when you finally reach the podium, win a race or a championship, you truly appreciate all the work that happened behind the scenes.
9. You’ve already made history, but what does the next chapter look like for Ibrahim Badawi? And what would you say to the next young Egyptian who dreams of seeing their name on an international racing grid?ย
The next chapter for me is about reaching the highest levels of international motorsport, and hopefully, one day soon, racing in the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. To any young Egyptian who dreams of becoming a professional driver, I would say itโs never too late to start. I began karting at 15, while most drivers start at five or six, but I never let that stop me from pursuing a professional career. Motorsport is truly incredible and worth every bit of effort it takes to reach the professional level. Put in the work, and youโll never regret it.
