Photo: Elite Motorsport
F1 Academy race-winner Bianca Bustamante will race in GB3 next year, have penned a deal with Elite Motorsport.
The 19-year-old Filipino is a McLaren Formula 1 junior and will be returning to Formula Regional-level competition, having raced faster machinery before spending two years in Formula 4.
She is Elite’s second signing for next season, when the championship introduces a new car, alongside 2024 title contender Will Macintyre.
“GB3 is a great step to progress up the ladder of single-seater competition,” said Bustamante. “I felt GB3 was the perfect step to learn higher downforce and bigger-powered cars, with the next step aimed at Formula 3.
“With the great calendar mixing European and British circuits, as well as a strong grid of drivers, I expect GB3 to provide me with a great learning platform. I look back fondly on my F1 Academy years and am proud of what was achieved but I’m now excited to return to the traditional racing ladder with both male and female racers on the grid.”
Bustamante began her single-seater career in 2022, coming 25th in USF Juniors (which used F4 cars at the time) after contesting a quarter of the season, then moving up to FRegional to race in the all-female W Series. She came 15th in the standings with two points.
Last year she stepped back down to F4, and signed with top team Prema. She 27th in the Emirati championship, then seventh in the all-female F1 Academy with two victories and two other podiums. Cameos in Italy and Macau were also made.
Bustamante returned to USF Juniors for its season finale, and two ninth places put her 17th in the standings. After that she was signed by McLaren to its driver development programme, and it decided to keep her in F4 for 2024.
Driving for the Global Racing Service team she came 40th in Formula Winter Series, then with ART Grand Prix she was seventh in F1 Academy again with one podium and also cameoed in Euro 4 and Italian F4.
Although Bustamante did appear in British F4, her outing with Hitech GP was at Zandvoort rather than a British track. She scored points by finishing eighth in her third race.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Bianca to Elite Motorsport. It is very clear Bianca has a fantastic attitude combined with total professionalism,” said Elite owner Eddie Ives.
“I’m confident that with these attributes along with her experience and success she’s already accomplished in such a short space of time, together with the skills of my excellent GB3 team, will no doubt lead to a fantastic season.”