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    Bianca Bustamante raises PH motorsport's profile with F1 Academy feat

    Teen driver flies flag in F1 Academy
    May 8, 2023
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    PHOTO: @racerbia on Instagram

    PICTURE this: you’ve just won the race, you’re on the top step of the podium while your national anthem is being played, and you’ve just made history as the first female racer from your country to win an FIA-sanctioned single-seater race.

    For some, this is just a dream that they have yet to achieve — but for 18-year-old Bianca Bustamante, this is a dream that has turned into a reality.

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    The spirits of local motorsport fans and enthusiasts were renewed over the weekend as Bustamante led from start to finish on her way to a maiden victory in the second round of the F1 Academy’s inaugural season.

    Racing under the prominent Prema team that has produced the likes of Charles Leclerc, Mick Schumacher, Oscar Piastri, and more, Bustamante has made so much progress and huge career strides in such a short time.

    In a press conference, she talked about how the team has been pivotal in her development and how being paired with Spanish driver Marta Garcia (who is currently leading the standings) has helped make her more competitive.

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    Garcia has been helpful in setting references for tracks that she has yet to explore, Bustamante added.

    "Being in such a famous team, they are known for training champions who are now F1 drivers. Everyone that has gone through Prema in their junior Formula has had a decent career. So with this in mind, we knew that we were in the right spot and I knew that through them, I could learn massively.”

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    The F1 Academy is a racing category under Formula 1 that aims to “develop and prepare female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition.” Fifteen drivers make up the grid, one of them being Bustamante, and there are 21 races within 7 rounds happening in various F1 Grand Prix tracks.

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    Formula 1 has quickly become a popular sport among young Filipinos — partly because of the sport’s media coverage. Netflix has also become an avenue that has made the sport more accessible and easier to understand in order to attract a new audience.

    With the sport’s rapid growth in our country, along came the ascent of Bustamante from karting to her FIA Girls on Track: Rising Stars selection to her stint in the W Series, and now, to her inclusion in the F1 Academy.

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    The road was certainly not easy, but every step has been worth it as she is now able to raise our flag on a global level. In her words, this victory was not just for herself but was for every single Filipino.

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      “Representing the Philippines has truly been an honor of mine, especially in the world of motorsport where the Philippines isn’t really well-known… To actually have the anthem played as I had my peers and competitors beside me, my team, the people in front of me, it was a surreal moment and I just couldn’t help but sing along as I was so proud of who I am and where I come from.”

      The possibilities are endless for this talented driver, and she wants nothing more than to inspire fellow Filipinos who dream of the same path.

      With 5 rounds to go, Bustamante currently stands 6th in the driver standings while her team sits comfortably on top. She feels more confident having secured her first win and uses it as a motivation to continue her progression.

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      She remains focused and ready, with both feet on the ground, as she hopes to achieve more in the next round of the F1 Academy happening on May 19 to 21 in Barcelona.

      Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

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      PHOTO: @racerbia on Instagram
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