The “Race to Inspire” event is all about bringing the motorsports world closer to Filipinos.
After traveling all around the world, Bianca Bustamante received a warm homecoming thanks to her Filipino fans, who gathered in Mall of Asia for “Race to Inspire,” a motorsports-themed event organized to inspire more young Filipinos to reach for their dreams, just like she did.
Presented by CBR Media, Bianca’s management agency, “Race to Inspire” is a three-day event that highlights the growth of the Filipina driver’s career, while also giving fans an interactive look into what it’s like to be a world-class racer.
In the Central Atrium of MOA, Bianca’s go-kart and Formula Car sit on center stage — a poignant reminder of the small beginnings she started from and where her journey has brought her. Surrounding the two cars are fun activities for fans to try out, too!
From simulation racers to the popular reaction-time game, fans get to see first-hand some of the technology that racers like Bianca herself use to train and practice, a unique experience that she hopes will help bring the motorsports experience closer to her fellow Filipinos.
To kick off the event, Bianca welcomed fans and members of the media to “Race to Inspire” with a quick press conference to share what she’s been up to lately.
Evidently, she has been a busy girl. Reflecting on the past few months, she shared that it has been a whirlwind of events — her races in F1 Academy, appearing on the cover of Vogue, walking the red carpet, and collaborating with several international brands. All of this, on top of her main priority: to represent the Philippines in the F1 Academy and as the first female driver in the McLaren Driver Development Program.
“I think that how much I grew as a person. Obviously racing, as an athlete, you’re always facing really difficult moments. You train, you have long days on the track, long days at the gym, you sometimes lose inspiration, and you sometimes lose that drive…So for me, I had to grow up quite a lot recently,” she shared at the event.
“I had to find myself as well, and find myself, and the things that I want, and find happiness.”
This was followed by a panel discussion with fellow Filipino athletes from various fields. This included race driver Marlon Stockinger, car builder Angie Mead King, Filipinas star Inna Palacios, and Wushu athlete Agatha Wong. Sharing unique points of view based on their own personal experiences as athletes, they discussed the growth and momentum of Philippine sports today.
It’s definitely going to be a busy three days for Bianca, as an ambassador for the “Race to Inspire” event, where she will also be hosting meet-and-greet sessions with her fans.
But, if anyone knows how important initiatives like these are, it’s Bianca Bustamante.
Speaking with former racer Marlon Stockinger onstage on the first day of the event, she shared, “In my generation, I looked up to Marlon. I was here in MOA when I was seven years old, where he hosted his fan meet and he brought his Lotus car here.”
She added that this was a huge source of inspiration to her. To see someone from the Philippines racing at the international level pushed her to go after her dreams just the same.
Now, having achieved her dream at 19 years old, this go-getter athlete is doing the same for countless others.
Banner image by Brylle Sarmiento.