Rising Filipina star Bianca Bustamante reflects on steep learning curve and consistent progress at Imola

Official Release
1 day ago
3 min read

The 21-year-old Filipina racer demonstrated significant consistency, fighting into the top 15 in the highly competitive Eurocup-3 field.
The only female driver in the 30-strong Eurocup-3 field gained a combined total of 22 positions across the weekend through smart, composed driving.
Despite the steep learning curve of the European single-seater pathway, the Palou Motorsport driver remains focused on continuous progress as she pursues her ultimate dream of Formula 1.

Rising Filipina racing talent Bianca Bustamante has reflected on a weekend of immense personal and professional growth following Round 3 of the 2026 Eurocup-3 Championship at the historic Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy across July 3-5.

Stepping into the 2026 season in the all-new Dallara 326 with Palou Motorsport, the 21-year-old is tackling the most challenging and technically advanced machinery of her career to date. The move represents a critical stage in her development toward FIA Formula 3, and her weekend at Imola underscored both the steepness of that learning curve and her relentless drive to conquer it.

At the iconic Italian circuit, the only female driver in the 30 strong field displayed the race craft and tenacity she is fast becoming known for, overcoming a challenging qualifying to deliver three composed recovery drives. Navigating the demanding, high-speed nature of Imola, she climbed nine places to finish P15 in Race 1, following that up by moving forward eight places to P16 in Race 2, and closed out the weekend by advancing five spots to P19 in Race 3.

While the upward trajectory, improved race pace, and clean overtakes were a testament to the hard work she is putting in alongside Palou Motorsport with technical support from PREMA Racing, post-event Bustamante was open about the emotional weight of her ambition. Chasing her first championship points in a fiercely competitive international grid, the weekend has served as a reminder of the monumental challenge she has undertaken as the sole female driver in the series.

With five rounds remaining in the 2026 Eurocup-3 Championship, Bustamante now shifts her focus to another legendary Italian venue, with Round 4 taking place at the Temple of Speed, Monza, on July 31 – August 2. For more information, visit www.biancabustamante.com

Bianca Bustamante

Driver - Palou Motorsport

"Imola holds such a special history, and it was truly an honour to be driving my heart out and racing there at the weekend. Racing for me has always been fuelled by passion and love, but on those days when you feel like you are chasing something so out of reach, it also brings a little sadness. It was a great result for me at Imola in such a competitive championship and at a demanding new circuit, which my team kept reminding me of. I improved my race pace, my driving technique, made good passes, stayed smart and composed, didn’t make any costly mistakes, and gained positions every race. But somehow, I still had a tear in my eye after the checkered flag. I was so close, yet so far from scoring my first points. For a bit, I couldn’t see all the positives that this weekend really showed. I honestly can’t thank my team enough for helping me see all the good that I couldn’t see myself: I fought consistently within the top 15. I was there. And it is crazy to think that we still have five more race weekends to make progress. I am going to make every single one of them count."