16-year-old Filipina Bianca Bustamante is the next rising star in racing and one to keep tabs on. She was selected as the lone Asian representative for the 2021 FIA Girls on Track to compete for a place on the Ferrari Driver Academy. The Academy has a strong reputation of producing Formula One race stars.
According to the official press release, Bianca Bustamante hails from the Philippines and has been selected to participate in the FIA Girls on Track - Rising Stars Youth Scholarship Shoot-Out in 2021. This youth scholarship was launched by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission in 2020 to promote more young women in motorsport. The up-and-coming young talent is one of 14 selected from over 70 applications around the world, to take part in the shoot-out, and is the only Asian driver chosen by the FIA.
“My primary goal [at the moment] would be to win the scholarship with Ferrari Driver Academy. Moving on from there, I just want to get into Formula 4, hopefully win a championship, make it to Formula 3, then move up the ladder.”
BIANA BUSTAMANTE
The 3-day shoot-out on October 21-23, is the first challenge for scholarship hopefuls like Bustamante and 13 other girls. The event will be at the Circuit Paul Richard, where the F1 French Grand Prix also takes place. Various race tests will be held at the circuit, with the best 8 performing drivers moving on to attend FIA training camps. From there, they will head to Fiorano, Italy for final tests in Formula 4 cars and the winner will be recruited into the FDA with full race scholarships.
The three-time Philippine Driver of the Year awardee and 2018 Philippine National Junior Karter of the Year, Bianca has been gearing up for this moment since she was 5 years old. The up-and-coming driver won multiple karting championship across Asia and looks to make the professional move to Formula Racing and take her racing career to the next level.
Check out her achievements so far:
Cover Photo Credit: Bianca Bustamante Facebook
