Filipina driver Bianca Bustamante is set to get races under her belt before the final rounds of the 2024 F1 Academy season.
Filipina racing driver Bianca Bustamante will get some much-needed track time as she competes in two separate Formula 4 championships this month with ART Grand Prix.
Bustamante, who has gone through back-to-back race weekends at F1 Academy without scoring a point, sees action this weekend in Round 3 of the Euro 4 Championship.
This stint is slated from October 3 to 6 at the historic Monza Autodomo Nazionale Monza circuit.
Bustamante then returns to the same track later this month with Round 7 of the Italian F4 Championship from October 24 to 27.
It can be recalled that Bustamante won at Monza during the 2023 F1 Academy season – her second career win.
[Related: Bianca Bustamante closes in on top 5 after second career win in F1 Academy]
Bustamante’s dual stint at the famed Italian circuit should be a good way for her to regain her bearings as she endures a rough patch in her F1 Academy campaign.
The McLaren development driver slipped to P7 in the driver standings following subpar performances after the season break at F1 Academy.
With two more race weekends remaining for 2024 F1 Academy season, the 19-year-old hopes to get some momentum on her side.
“I’m very excited to head back to Monza, one of my favorite grand prix circuits. Euro 4 and Italian F4 are arguably the toughest F4 championships in the world, so it definitely means we will face tougher competition,” said Bustamante.
“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. 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,” she added.
Bustamante’s entry into the Formula 4 championships is supported by Filipino brand GoTyme Bank and Lance East Exotics.
Earlier in her career, the Filipina racer also saw action in the F4 UAE Championship, the Formula 4 Southeast Asia Championships, and the F4 British Championships.
She also previously participated in the Italian F4 in Spa.