Rising Filipino Racing Star Bianca Bustamante Joins Formula 4 Team PREMA
Rising star Bianca Bustamante has been signed up by Italian team PREMA for the 2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship.
The season, which will kick off on January 13, will see the Laguna-born racer test her mettle in a 40-car grid in tracks across Dubai, Kuwait,and Abu Dhabi.
She'll be behind the wheel of the new Tatuus F4 T421 GEN2. With each event consisting of test days, practice, a qualifying run, and three races per weekend, she'll getting valuable track experience after a breakthrough 2022 season which saw the talented teen make the leap from karts to formula cars.
Founded in 1983, Italian team PREMA Racing prides itself as the "leading contender in junior single-seater racing," it said in a statement.
(READ: From karting to single-seater racing: The meteoric rise of Bianca Bustamante)
In terms of size, achievements, and competition profile, it claims to only be behind F1 teams Ferrari and Alpha Tauri in the racing world.
Bianca Bustamante keeps her eyes on ultimate dream: Formula One
“I'm very excited to be joining PREMA for the F4 UAE. PREMA is one of the most prestigious racing organizations in the world, and it's truly an honour to be able to drive for them," said Bustamante in a statement.
"This winter, I will gain much-needed seat time to perform at my best in competition as we head into the 2023 season."
Rene Rosin, PREMA team principal, is looking forward to her upcoming campaign.
“We are delighted to welcome Bianca for 2023 as she joins us for F4 UAE. We are really looking forward to working with her and I think Bianca will be an outstanding fit right from the start considering what she was able to achieve in her first season in single-seaters."
In 2022, Bustamante completed a full season with the W Series Academy team, becoming a breakthrough Filipina athlete in the field of motorsports. Her goal still remains the same: Become the first Filipino in F1.
In her statement, the teen racer also thanked Lance East Office of entrepreneur Laurence Escalante, who sponsored her opportunity in F4. She will be promoting Escalante's Lance East Exotics brand.
From: SPIN.ph
