For the second edition of ‘A Bunch of Questions’, I’m delighted to say my guest is W Series star, Bianca Bustamante.
The Filipina racer is in her debut season of single seater racing and is racing in the ever growing in popularity W Series.
📸 Bianca in action in Miami as W Series supported F1 earlier this year.
This year, the 17 year old has also raced in the USF Junior Series in the US but has now started her focus on the W Series, partnering Japanese racer Juju Noda for the W Series Academy Team.
📸 Testing USF Juniors machinery.
I was able to ask Bianca some questions about her career so far, future plans, and what helped her to get to where she is now! Read below!
1. You’re in your rookie year in the W Series, how are you enjoying it so far?
More than anything it’s been such a great learning experience. I’ve grown so much as a driver, and though it has come with growing pains and challenges I’m always looking forward to getting back on the track and racing again.
📸 Bianca is enjoying the learning curve this year.
2. Who’s been your toughest opponent so far in your career?
Definitely myself. My focus for this season has been to develop and refine my racing skills, and become better than I was in previous races.
📸 ‘Own worst enemy’; Bianca says she is her own toughest opponent.
3. Who are your racing heroes, and what is it about them that inspires you to race?
Niki Lauda, purely because he amassed every attribute I think is needed to really become a champion.
📸 For many, including Bianca, Niki Lauda epitomised what a good driver needs to succeed. Bravery, immense talent, and incredible mental strength.
4. What is your favourite circuit you’ve raced on?
I would say Hungary was a really fun track that I enjoyed driving at.
📸 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the Hungaroring.
5. What is your favourite you’ve not had the chance to race on yet?
Monza has always been high up on the list, just love the mix of slow and very high speed corners.
📸 Bianca is keen to race Monza, as soon as possible!
6. At 16 and 17, you and Juju Noda are the youngest drivers and teammates on this year’s W Series grid. How are you able to help each other progress?
Great learning from another, to be teammates with someone who is sort of going through the similar experience as me, mentally helps and motivates me as we can cope from one another.
📸 Bianca ahead in the No.9 car.
7. Is Formula 1 the goal for you, or do your objectives take you elsewhere? If F1 is the goal, is your aim to soon feature in Formula 3?
Yes the goal will forever be F1, W Series is a great first step. But moving forward I’m very excited where this path will take me.
📸 More USF Juniors action!
8. Sponsorship is huge in racing and securing race seats; I read that your dad does a lot of work for your career, does that involve securing these sponsors?
Coming from a Filipino middle class family, it was hard for my dad to even just sustain the family needs, so definitely adding such an expensive sport into it was not easy. But he worked 3 jobs just so I can be able to live my dreams. Although as I grew up and started showing potential more people realize that and helped me out, especially the international kart teams that gave me a free seat.
📸 Very grateful for all the hard work that’s gone into getting her where she is now.
9. Who have been the biggest helpers towards helping you race?
Basically everyone! Darryl my manager, my family friends and fans, my coach Richard, the CBR media team. There’s so many aspects that help progress a racing career, and not coming from wealth and guaranteed financial backing, I couldn’t have done it without the entire team.
📸 Racing in Barcelona.
10. How different is racing in Europe, compared to racing in Asia?
Asia is my home, I would say that mentally I am more at peace and just more confident knowing that it’s my turf. Being away racing in Europe there’s a lot of things to adjust to as we race at different track and countries every time. All of the tracks I’ve never driven at so that definitely lowers my confidence but of course it’s a great learning experience being able to be at all these circuits.
📸 Ready for action.
11. What is your motivation, what is it that keeps you going when things are tough?
For sure looking back to how far we’ve come along, 5 months back I was this scrawny Filipino kid who had such big dream but ultimate nowhere to go, but eventually found my path. Knowing that everything will fall into place and the sun will shine again keeps me motivated.
12. Do you have any pre-race rituals or routines?
Pray!! I am very religious I would say, praying and asking guidance keeps me at peace. Knowing in my head that God is looking out for me up there.
📸 Rubbing shoulders with one of the all time greats.
13. What’s your earliest memory of racing?
When I first drove a bambino kart age 3.
📸 Post-karting.
14. As a Filipina driver you’re leading the way as not only a female racer but an Asian one too, what words of advice could you offer to people from these groups who want to do what you do?
Keep going! The path ahead may be foggy and unclear but the only thing that matters is you doing your best to move closer to your goals everyday.
📸 “Keep going!”.
15. A lot of racing fans have amassed collections of things like scale models of helmets or cars or other miscellaneous items; as a racing fan yourself, do you have anything like this?
For sure my suits. I have suits from when I was 8 years old, I keep them always remembering all the sweat, tears, oils, fuel, and champagne that suit has endured haha!
This was an incredible interview to have the absolute pleasure to do! Thanks so much to Bianca and Sonija and Dika at CBR Media for making this possible! I hope to speak with Bianca again in the not to distant future!
Bianca is next in action when W Series again supports Formula 1 in Singapore at the Marina Bay Circuit on the 30th September to the 2nd of October.
Best of luck Bianca for the rest of the season!
📸 Image credit(s): Bianca Bustamante, Hungaroring, W Series, Formula Motorsport Limited.
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