Bianca Bustamante fulfills dream with Monza win in F1 Academy

July 10, 2023 Times Europe

Filipino driver Bianca Bustamante of PREMA Racing celebrates after winning an F1 Academy race in Monza. Photo from F1 Academy

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino speedster Bianca Bustamante fulfilled a childhood dream after winning Race 3 of Round 5 in the Formula 1 Academy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy on Sunday (Manila time).

Bustamante claimed her second win of the season after ruling the second race of Round 2 at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain two months ago.

“Today in Monza we won something much greater than just a race. I achieved one of the dreams of 7yr old Bia to win in her dream track with her Italian dream team in a red car. Just wow ❤️,” Bustamante posted on Instagram on Sunday.

The Philippines’ Bianca Bustamante of PREMA Racing lifts her F1 Academy trophy after winning Race 3 in Monza. Photo from F1 Academy

“Thank you to everyone, a surreal feeling hearing the Philippine anthem and Italian fans chant my name on the podium🙏,” Bustamante wrote.

Round the outside of Curva Grande! The move that secured the lead for Bustamante in Race 3.#F1Academy pic.twitter.com/Zm1Al1Ov3a

— F1 Academy (@f1academy) July 9, 2023

The 18-year-old Bustamante, who started in P2, took her time before making her move at the Curva Grande to grab the lead for good from pole-sitter Abbi Pulling of Rodin Carlin.

“It was a tough race. The P2 in qualifying really helped me. At the start, the main goal was to race cleanly and navigate the first few corners. I tried a few times in T1 for the overtake on Abbi but was able to have a good run on one occasion into T3 and get the move down. It was really a mega job from the team and the car was amazing,” Bustamante said on the F1 Academy website.

Bustamante’s victory came just a day after she finished second to Lena Buhler of ART Grand Prix in Race 2.