FILE–McLaren developmental driver Bianca Bustamante. –BIANCA TWITTER
MANILA, Philippines — Bianca Bustamante is set for a busy month as she sees action in the Euro 4 Championship third round and the Italian F4 Championship at Monza Autodomo Nazionale Monza circuit.
The Filipino racer of ART Grand Prix will compete in the final round of Euro 4 starting on Friday and in the Italian F4 Championship Round 7 from October 24 to 27.
“I can’t wait to be racing on my favorite track in the world and look forward to the big challenge ahead. Focused on driving well this weekend and make steps forward especially coming back competing in a mixed series,” wrote Bustamante, who got her second career win at Monza in last year’s F1 Academy.
READ: PH’s Bianca Bustamante joins McLaren driver development program
The 19-year-old Bustamante seeks to bounce back after dropping to P7 in the last two rounds of the all-female championship series held in Zandvoort and Singapore.
“Euro 4 and Italian F4 are arguably the toughest F4 championships in the world, so it definitely means we will face tougher competition. It also means going back into a mixed male-female grid, but I love that because I want to compete against the best drivers Racing at Monza gives me a bit of extra confidence as I enjoy everything about this track, which will hopefully give me a slight mental edge,” she said in a statement.
“We’re doing everything we can to maximize our growth, so my goal is to drive well and apply everything that we’ve learned throughout the season.”
Bustamante is the first female in the McLaren Racing Driver Development program as the team’s F1 Academy driver.