Mathiew Rahme: The drift king of Dubai

Mathiew Rahme, affectionately known as the "Godfather of Nissan Z," has carved a name for himself in the motorsports world — not just for his breathtaking drifts but for his unwavering dedication to the art form. From the sleek, smoking rubber of his Nissan Z to his role as a co-owner of The Drift Home in Dubai, Mathiew’s journey is one of passion, grit, and relentless pursuit of a dream.

We met the Lebanese-born pro drifter at The Drift Home, the track he co-owns in Dubai. As he fine-tuned his car for another adrenaline-pumping run, Mathiew shared stories of his rise in the sport, his vision for drifting, and the roads he has yet to conquer.

From spectator to champion

It wasn’t always the roar of engines that captivated Mathiew. In fact, before he was tearing through tracks, he was simply an observer.

“I’d watch from the sidelines,” he recalled, reminiscing about the early days when his partner Yusuf first launched The Drift Home. Back then, the track was a scrappy project, and Mathiew, despite his love for motorsports, was a spectator rather than a participant.

That changed when he made a bold leap — leaving a stable career to immerse himself in the high-octane world of professional drifting. The move was a gamble, but it paid off. Today, Mathiew is not only a celebrated driver but also one of the masterminds behind The Drift Home's rise as a hub for Dubai’s drifting community.

Mathiew's dream race

For Mathiew, the ultimate motorsport showdown would be a race against none other than Rowan Atkinson, the British actor famous for playing Mr. Bean and an accomplished motorsport enthusiast in his own right.

“I’d love to race against Rowan Atkinson one day,” Mathiew said. “He’s a track guy, and I’ve always admired his dedication to motorsports.”

Rowan Atkinson drives Hydrogen powered race carHydrogen Grand Prix

"I’d love to race against Rowan Atkinson one day. He’s a track guy, and I’ve always admired his dedication to motorsports.

While his admiration for Atkinson runs deep, his connection to his car—the iconic Nissan Z—is even stronger.

Known for its sleek design, nimble handling, and powerful engine, the Z is the perfect machine for a driver who loves to push the limits of what’s possible on the track.

Mathiew's Nissan ZNukta

And his Z isn’t just any car. It’s been painstakingly customized for peak performance, capable of delivering the precision and speed that drifting demands. As he prepped for a spin on the track, we could see firsthand how much he enjoys the process of taking his car through its paces.

Still, there’s another car that looms large in Mathiew’s dreams: the Nissan GT-R. Though he’s yet to take the GT-R for a spin on a drift track, he sees it as the ultimate challenge.

Future of drifting

Despite his success on the track and his influential role in the drifting community, Mathiew believes that drifting has the potential to achieve global recognition, on par with iconic motorsports like Formula 1.

His dream is to see drifting as an internationally recognized sport, with professional drivers competing on the world stage and receiving the same amount of fandom.

Mathiew took Nukta for a spin in his Nissan ZNukta

As our conversation drew to a close and Mathiew revved the engine of his tuned Z, it was clear that his passion for drifting is far from a passing phase.