Bianca Bustamante looks to make history as the first Filipina race car driver to compete in the W Series.
She is one of the youngest among 18 drivers who will see action in the all-female racing championship for the 2022 season.
The 17-year-old wunderkind has been making waves in both the local and international karting scene where she earned multiple recognition through the years. Being selected for a full-time drive in the W Series now brings her one step closer to her goal of competing in Formula 1.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve dreamt of racing in a professional formula car series,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
“Today all the hard work has paid off, as I can officially announce that I have been selected by W Series for the full 2022 season.”
Bustamante recently participated in pre-season evaluation testings held at the Inde Motorsports Ranch and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya where she drove alongside other W Series stars. Her impressive showing in the three-day track test in Spain led her to secure a full-time seat in the prestigious competition for the 2022 season.
Before earning the call-up, she previously served as the lone Asian representative in the senior category of the 2021 FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars program.
W Series racing director Dave Ryan also expressed his confidence in the talent pool of the 2022 grid which will be headlined by two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick.
“The class of 2022 represents 10 different countries, and more than a quarter of the grid are new talents making their W Series debut,” he said. “The five rookies are well-prepared and join a group of proven W Series performers who know what it’s all about. In the spirit of W Series, they will all drive each other forwards.”
The tourney will stage eight support races during Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends and will run its course until October.
Bustamante is set to drive for one of the nine competing teams and will be making her debut on May 6 in Miami, Florida.
