Filipina racing driver Bianca Bustamante has never shied away from talking about her goals and aspirations. In her W Series biography, she openly shares, “All my life, I’ve had my sights set on Formula 1“.
Indeed, she has been making strides to achieve her dream. She was selected as the only Asian in the FIA Girls on Track: Rising Stars scholarship and later received a full-time seat with the W Series Academy Team. And at only 17 years old, she is not done.
Now, she is still proving that she has more to give on the track. Bianca Bustamante recently announced that she will be racing in the Indian Racing League.
New league, new opportunities
Bianca Bustamante burst straight from karting into a single-seater car when she joined the W Series for the 2022 season. Any racer knows that the transition is always challenging. But, the Filipina still concluded the season as the top-placed rookie in the league, finishing in P14 in the standings.
Not a bad way to end her first season in single-seater racing. And now, she will have the opportunity to further her skills and confidence on track with the Indian Racing League (IRL).
The IRL is a Formula 3-level single-seater championship in India. And in their new season, Bustamante will compete in four races in four weeks, beginning on November 19. It sounds demanding, but it is a challenge that the Filipina is looking forward to.
On her Instagram, she shares, “I’m not used to getting so much seat time in one month, so it is a great opportunity for me to develop my skills.”
In addition to the IRL’s unique format, the series also includes men and women from all around the world competing. This will be a different atmosphere than Bustamante was used to with the W Series. But it will be yet another chance to grow in the sport.
A fully booked schedule ahead
The series organizers, Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL) announced that the league will begin with pre-testing at Madras International Circuit on November 14, and are hosting 20 drivers from different countries.
Additionally, the series features five franchise teams. Bianca Bustamante will be competing for the Bangalore Speedsters alongside teammates Oliver Webb, Anshul Gandhi, and Rishon Rajeev.
The racing action at the IRL begins on November 19 at the Hyderabad Street Circuit and will be followed by three more consecutive race weekends.
With this, the year is not yet over for the Filipina racer. And as for her career in the sport, she is just getting started.
Banner image from Bianca Bustamante on Instagram.