Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: Bianca Bustamante

  • Cupra Kiro sign Bianca Bustamante as Development Driver

    CUPRA KIRO have signed Bianca Bustamante as their official Development Driver.

    After impressing on the Asian karting scene, Bustamante, who hails from the Philippines, stepped up to professional competition in 2022 and made an immediate mark in junior single-seaters.

    The 20 year old raced in w Series before joining F1 Academy where, from 2023 to 2024, she represented PREMA Racing and ART Grand Prix.
    After securing two victories and a total of five podiums in a highly competitive field, Bianca stepped up to the hotly contested GB3 Championship for 2025.

    Bustamante has previous Formula E experience after representing NEOM McLaren and setting the third-fastest time in Formula E’s Women’s Test at Jarama in 2024.

    As Development Driver, Bustamnate made her first official appearance in CUPRA KIRO colours at the Jakarta weekend, where she shadowed full-time drivers Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann while embedding herself in the team.

    Her first appearance as a CUPRA KIRO driver will follow at the Berlin E-Prix where she will participate in Formula E’s annual rookie test at the Tempelhof Circuit on 14th July.

    I’m really excited to join CUPRA KIRO as the team’s Development Driver as I continue my Formula E journey. In the very short time that we’ve been working together, it’s been incredible to experience the team’s disruptive approach to racing in action and to see the team’s hunger and desire for success first-hand. Working with Dan, David, and the team is an invaluable opportunity for me at this stage of my career, and I’m looking forward to applying everything I learn into the GB3 Championship in 2025. I’m excited to absorb everything on-site in Jakarta and of course, to drive the team’s current Season 11 car in Berlin this July.
    Bustamante on the news.

    On behalf of the team, I’m delighted to welcome Bianca to CUPRA KIRO. Since stepping up to single seater racing only three years ago, Bianca has not only proven that she is a force to be reckoned with but has become one of the leading voices in promoting female participation in motorsport by widening the industry’s talent pipeline. Opening and fostering opportunities for next generation racing drivers is integral to the future of our sport, and while we’re looking forward to seeing Bianca’s contribution to CUPRA KIRO, we’re equally excited to support her own development as an athlete. I can’t wait to see her embed herself in the team over the coming weeks ahead of her Rookie Test outing in Berlin.
    Russell O’Hagan, Chief Operating Officer, CUPRA KIRO.

  • McLaren sign F1 Academy’s Bianca Bustamante

    F1 Academy racer, Bianca Bustamante has become the newest addition to the McLaren Driver Development programme, with the 18 year old making history as the first female driver to join the British team’s development programme.

    Born in the Philipines, Bustamante made her single-seater debut in 2022, competing in W Series, where she claimed the top rookie honours. This year, she joined the grid for the inaugural F1 Academy season with PREMA Racing, earning two wins and two podiums.

    As part of the programme, Bustamante will represent McLaren on the 2024 F1 Academy grid and run their livery, switching to race with ART Grand Prix.

    Her involvement in the McLaren Driver Development programme, led by Emanuele Pirro, will see her join the team’s talent pipeline which has an overarching aim to help drivers progress towards Formula 1, IndyCar and Formula E.

    This is such an unreal moment in my career, to sign with McLaren and ART Grand Prix is way beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined growing up racing karts in the Philippines. I still have a hard time seeing my name next to McLaren without getting emotional, as the history and heritage linked to this team leaves me truly speechless. I’m so grateful for this opportunity as I believe I now have the best possible development structure around me to take the next step up in my career, and for this I am so thankful. 2023 was all about improving my speed which I demonstrated across several races this year, but in 2024 my aim is to establish consistency and improve my mental strength in order to make a title challenge in the coming F1 Academy season. For now, my focus is to finish off the F1 Academy season strongly here in Austin, but we’ll get to work immediately on the 2024 season. I’ve never been more motivated in my life! A big thanks goes to Susie Wolff and the team at F1 Academy for fighting so hard for us girls and to give us this opportunity to be the best we can be. Additional thanks go to Zak Brown, Andrea Stella, Emanuele Pirro, Sebastian Philippe, my sponsors, and all my supporters for believing in me and making this all possible. I am full of gratitude, and I promise to give it my all.

    Bianca on the news.

    The team are delighted for Bianca to join us, and for McLaren to be involved in F1 Academy. It’s a core principle of ours to be a diverse and inclusive team, so we’re pleased to be so involved in Formula 1’s work on the important topic of improving gender diversity within motorsport. We also look forward to seeing Bianca grow and progress within the McLaren Racing Driver Development programme under Emanuele’s guidance.

    Andrea Stella, McLaren’s Team Principal.

    I’m pleased that Bianca is joining our Driver Development programme. She’s a promising young talent who has a brilliant work ethic and is aligned closely to our team’s values. I look forward to working with Bianca on her development as a racing driver. We’re also excited for Bianca to be representing the team in the F1 Academy series and we look forward to seeing her race in papaya in 2024.

    Emanuele Pirro, Director of the McLaren Racing Driver Development.

  • Bianca Bustamante joins F1 Academy

    PREMA Racing have announced that Filipino driver, Bianca Bustamante is the first driver in their three-car line up for the F1 Academy season.

    Bustamante made her single-seater debut last year, competing in W Series, scoaring points in her first race with a ninth-place finish in Miami.

    The 18 year old went on to end the season 15th in the drivers’ standings, claiming the top rookie honours.

    Bustamante is currently competing in the Formula 4 UAE Championship with PREMA ahead of her debut in the all-female series, where she scored her first points of the season at the third round in Kuwait.

    I’m very excited to be joining PREMA for the 2023 season. As a rookie in formula cars, 2022 was a year full of challenges, but today is definitely a big step up in my career. PREMA is one of the most prestigious racing organisations in the world, and I’m incredibly grateful to join their family of drivers. With PREMA, I’m joining a top driver development programme both on and off the race track, and most importantly, I will have a rigorous race and test programme, giving me the much-needed seat time to perform at my best in competition. Thank you PREMA for bringing me into the programme, and Formula 1 for launching this series to support young female drivers. Most importantly, thanks to Laurence Escalante for believing in me and supporting my journey, getting me one step closer to my F1 dreams.

    Bustamante on her seat.

    We are happy to announce Bianca for our new F1 Academy programme. We enjoy working together in the F4 UAE Championship and we feel there is great potential we can build on for the future. I think she will be an outstanding fit right from the start, especially considering what she was able to achieve in her first experiences, and we are determined to provide her with our best support.

    Rene Rosin, Team Principal.