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.