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Rising Star Racer Bianca Bustamante in 'Race to Inspire'

We caught up with Filipina F1 Academy Racer Bianca Bustamante at the 'Race to Inspire' event, which was aimed at promoting motorsport in Manila 

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Metro.Style Team

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b72114f6-8ebf-4117-8fcd-5693bc66286a_454414416_382157521281458_6092152525509289790_n.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Bianca Bustamante<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><em> Photo from @racerbia  </em></span></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p><strong><a href="https://metro.style/people/inspiring-stories/fascinating-women-2024-bianca-bustamante/37695" target="_blank">Bianca Bustamante</a></strong>, the Filipino rising star in the world of motorsport, recently returned to her home country for a quick break and a much-awaited event for her supporters held at the SM Mall of Asia. </p><div><br/></div><p>Powered by<strong> GoTyme Bank</strong>, the “<strong>Race to Inspire</strong>” three-day event drew crowds eager to see their motorsport hero in person. But beyond the selfies and signatures, Bianca used this moment to share her journey, offering some bits of advice on what keeps her speeding toward success.</p><div><br/></div><p>“The hardest part early on was actually having support,” Bianca told <strong>Metro.Style</strong>. “I feel like nobody supports you early on in your career; they only support you when you’re obviously a bit bigger and succeed in all of the things. So I think especially motorsport being a tough environment, it was very hard to gather that initial funding and initial backing from people from teams. But you got to keep pushing forward and you need that passion to keep you bright and that’s what I’ve done my whole life.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/inspiring-stories/fascinating-women-2024-bianca-bustamante/37695" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fascinating Women 2024: Filipino Racing Driver Bianca Bustamante</a></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/0e8ad821-7b5e-4cac-9183-9abe0c93391a_454598370_804751698507841_950468332431933120_n.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>At just 19, Bianca has become a symbol of inspiration for young women who dream of making it in the male-dominated world of racing. Her influence is so strong that even Guest of Honor <strong>Mandy Eduque</strong>, Chairman of AAP Motorsports, couldn’t help but praise her impact.</p><div><br/></div><p>“I think that Bianca is a very important figure in this movement to attract more women to the sport,” Mandy said. “The FIA has gone into this program to attract more women competitors by putting up things like F1 Academy, and in the Philippines, we would like to attract more ladies into the sport.”</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/bf6063d2-dbe0-4c23-82cc-b4ebc4245770_bianca b.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Bianca Bustamante with renowned motorsport racing driver Marlon Stockinger and Mr. Mandy Eduque (Chairman of AAP Motorsports)<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><em> Photo by Cielo Fernando  </em></span></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>He added with admiration, “I mean, Bianca just said something that struck me when I was reading it. She said I am willing to bleed for the sport. If you have an attitude like that, you go places.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Bianca knows firsthand how challenging it can be to break into a sport where men have traditionally dominated the field. But her love for racing keeps her foot on the pedal, chasing those checkered flags—and winning.</p><div><br/></div><p>“I’m doing my best to make the sport more accessible to women by hosting these events, to shed light. I feel like it’s very important to speak and talk about my experiences to make sure that I can influence the next generation,” she shared.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/f3bb8a4d-5da3-4efd-acde-080531ddbfaa_455153553_494498893168401_5982861849319005055_n.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">In an exclusive interview with Metro.Style, this multi-faceted achiever shared with us the other interests she pursues: “Definitely arts. I’m a very creative person. I love videography, photography, and I love drawing. [I’m] into architecture.”<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><em> Photo by @rynong via @racerbia  </em></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b2ea2d92-51cd-4089-be1a-aa6962c8e764_454963925_470112942491908_6010363380766967349_n.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>With her next race in Zandvoort just around the corner, Bianca’s Manila pit stop was more than just a homecoming—it was a powerful reminder that no dream is too big if you’re willing to chase it with everything you’ve got.</p><div><br/></div><p>Text by <strong>Cielo Fernando</strong></p><p>Lead photo from <strong>@racerbia</strong></p><div><br/></div>