Follow Bia's Journey
ABOUT
In 2026, Rising talent Bianca Bustamante is taking another critical step in her pursuit of one day competing in Formula 1, signing with Palou Motorsport for the Eurocup-3 Championship.
Following a breakthrough 2025 campaign in Britain’s GB3 Championship, the 21-year-old Filipina racing driver has now stepped decisively into the European single-seater pathway, taking on the new Dallara 326.
Even at her young age, Bianca has already carved out a trailblazing career, earning two victories in the F1 Academy, serving as Development Driver for CUPRA KIRO in Formula E, and becoming the first female driver selected for the McLaren Driver Development Programme in 2023 – a milestone which underscored her status as one of motorsport’s most exciting emerging talents.
Fuelled by a mission to elevate Asian representation and prove women can triumph at the sport’s highest levels, Bianca continues to push boundaries on and off the track, inspiring a new generation of racers across Asia and beyond.
HER STORY
Bianca Bustamante burst onto the karting scene at an early age.
Dominating the regional karting landscape and quickly emerging as one of Asia’s brightest rising talents, her early success led to a pivotal moment in 2021 when she was selected as the sole Asian representative for the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars programme; a gateway which would introduce her to the global motorsport stage.
A year later, Bianca made her single-seater debut in the W Series, alongside campaigns in several international F4 championships before in 2023, she joined PREMA Racing for the inaugural season of F1 Academy.
In this all-female series founded by Formula 1, she made an immediate impression, securing four podiums and two breakthrough victories in Valencia and Monza.
For 2024, her final eligible season in F1 Academy, she joined ART Grand Prix with the support of McLaren Racing, becoming the first female driver ever signed to the McLaren Driver Development Programme.
As she progressed on track under McLaren’s guidance, her influence off track was growing just as rapidly; with her tenacity, commercial presence, and advocacy for women in motorsport earning her recognition on SportsPro’s 2024 Most Marketable Athletes list and the 2025 Forbes Europe 30 Under 30 list.
Following a defining 2025 season in Britain’s GB3 Championship, Bianca has now taken another significant step forward; signing with Palou Motorsport for both the Eurocup-3 Winter Series and the main Eurocup-3 Championship in 2026.
This move places her in the new Toyota powered Dallara 326 – the fastest and most technically advanced machinery of her career to date – against a highly competitive international grid on Europe’s most iconic circuits.
As she does so, she is benefiting from familiar technical support thanks to Palou Motorsport’s partnership with PREMA Racing. With access to PREMA Racing’s world class engineering and simulator tools, Bianca is ideally positioned to continue refining her craft as she continues her climb towards FIA Formula 3 and ultimately, her “Everest” Formula 1
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Signs 2026 Eurocup-3 season with Palou Motorsport
Full Season 2026
Signs as a Development Driver for Cupra Kiro in Formula E
2025-2026
Signed 2025 GB3 Championship with Elite Motorsport
Full Season 2025
Formula E Women's test Valencia
P3 2025
F1 Academy Round 5 @ Monza, Italy
Race Win 2023
F1 Academy Round 2 @ Valencia, Spain
First Career Win 2023
Signed F1 Academy with PREMA
Full Season 2023
Formula 4 UAE Championship with PREMA
2x Top-10 Finishes 2023
W Series
Top Rookie in Driver Standings 2022
W Series Scholarship Shootout
Winner (Academy Team) 2022
Selected for FIA Girls on Track
Rising Stars Global Shootout 2021
3x Philippines Driver of the Year (Karting)
2020 - 2018
3x Macau Kart Grand Prix Winner
2020 - 2019
Round 2 | June 5 - 7
Portimao, PRT
Round 2 | June 5 - 7
Portimao, PRT
Round 2 | June 5 - 7
Portimao, PRT
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