AWMN in Profile: Leah Driver

There and back, the hard way

By the time the finish line comes into view at the Finke Desert Race, the work is already done. Two days. Roughly 460 kilometres of red dirt, whoops, heat and mechanical stress. For many competitors, simply getting there is the achievement.

For Leah Driver, finishing Finke in 2025 was the realisation of a long-held goal — and a shared moment. Sitting beside her dad, after years of unseen work, she crossed the line having achieved something neither of them will forget.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to do it beside anyone else.”

Leah’s motorsport story started early. Growing up around speedway, she began racing juniors at ten years old, drawn in as much by the people as the competition itself. Two NT Titles followed, along with the friendships and travel that often define grassroots racing more than trophies ever do.

Even then, her sights were set elsewhere.
After juniors, the dream was clear: one day, she wanted to compete at Finke.

That ambition became tangible when she and her dad bought a Class 2 buggy — a two-seat off-road car where momentum, judgement and mechanical sympathy matter more than outright horsepower. What initially looked like a straightforward purchase quickly became something else entirely.

The buggy was stripped back to the frame when a rollcage adjustment revealed deeper issues. What followed was a slow, methodical rebuild that stretched over two years. The engine and gearbox came out three separate times before everything was finally right. Components were strengthened, systems refined, and weaknesses addressed one by one.

For first-time Finke teams, this level of preparation is not unusual — particularly in lighter buggy classes where vibration, heat and suspension load can end a race as quickly as a driving mistake. Leah and her dad took the long road, knowing the desert doesn’t reward shortcuts.

When the buggy eventually rolled out for its first competitive outings, the confidence wasn’t in the result — it was in the car.

Class 2 buggies occupy a unique space at Finke. With relatively small engines and lightweight chassis, they run the same brutal course as larger buggies and trucks, but without the safety net of brute force. Maintaining momentum and preserving the car over two days becomes critical.

Historically, only around half to two-thirds of lighter buggy entrants make it to the finish at Finke. Mechanical fatigue claims the rest.

In that context, finishing matters.

Leah and her dad not only completed both legs of the race, they recorded second-in-class results across two off-road national rounds — a return that reflected preparation, patience and trust more than raw speed.

If Day 1 is about setting a rhythm, Day 2 is where Finke reveals itself. The return leg is rougher, more chopped-out and unforgiving. Fatigue builds. Small issues grow teeth.

During the 2025 event, Leah experienced a rollover — small enough to continue, but significant enough to test both driver and machine. The decision to press on wasn’t bravado. It was grounded in confidence in the car, and in each other.

In a two-seat buggy, trust is literal. Communication, composure and shared decision-making are what get crews home.

“Seeing the trust he has in my driving during off-road is something I truly cherish,” Leah says.

Racing, for Leah, has always been about more than the result. From juniors through to off-road, community has mattered just as much as competition. At one point in Alice Springs, there were more girls racing junior speedway than boys — a reflection of strong local pathways and visible role models.

Today, Leah pays that forward in simple ways: taking time to talk with spectators, handing out promo stickers, and being present when people stop to ask questions.

“They could be the future,” she says. “It’s important to have those conversations.”

Behind the scenes, Leah also handles much of the administration — nominations, paperwork and logistics — while her dad leads the mechanical work. It’s a partnership built on complementary skills and shared effort.

Ask Leah what keeps her coming back to the start line and the answer is uncomplicated.

“The adrenaline rush. Even though there are bad race days, the good ones outweigh them. When a weekend comes together, it’s an incredible feeling — and the bad days just push you into the next one.”

Her proudest achievements span both disciplines: making an A-Main at an NT Speedway Title, winning her class and NT Titles in off-road during 2025, and standing on the podium at off-road national rounds.

Not because of the placing — but because of who was in the other seat.

With buggy #242 now proven and experience under her belt, Leah is preparing for Finke 2026 with the Driver Racing Team. The goal remains unchanged: to race, to finish, and to keep learning.

Her advice to anyone considering taking the leap is simple.

“Go for it. You only live once, and it’s an experience you’ll never forget.”