Tag: Bianca Bustamante

Bustamante joins Lloyd in McLaren’s female Formula E test lineup

NEOM McLaren has announced that Bianca Bustamante and Ella Lloyd will drive at the upcoming all female Formula E test. Both part of McLaren’s driver development scheme, Bustamante has been racing in F1 Academy with McLaren backing this season where …

NEOM McLaren has announced that Bianca Bustamante and Ella Lloyd will drive at the upcoming all female Formula E test.

Both part of McLaren’s driver development scheme, Bustamante has been racing in F1 Academy with McLaren backing this season where she took a podium in the second race of the Miami Grand Prix weekend.

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“I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a GEN3 Evo car with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team next month in Valencia,” said Bustamante. “I’ve already been honing my skills in the simulator, and working with the team so I can extract the most from this opportunity as I can. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Lloyd is a more recent addition to the McLaren driver development programme, and will also race in F1 Academy with backing from the brand next season, albeit racing with Rodin Motorsport, not ART Grand Prix like Bustamante.

“I’m really excited to be part of the Women’s Test with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team,” said Lloyd. “This opportunity will allow me to gain valuable experience in Formula E GEN3 Evo machinery and continue to develop my skills as a racing driver. I can’t wait to get going.”

The half-day all female test at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo will form part of pre-season testing ahead of the 11th season of Formula E. it will mark the first public outing of the new GEN3 Evo Formula E car which will introduce all-wheel-drive for the first time, as well as aerodynamic improvements and improved Hankook tires which will deliver 10 percent more grip.

“I am very pleased with the Women’s Test taking place during Valencia Pre-Season Testing, and am excited to be welcoming Bianca and Ella trackside as part of the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team,” said NEOM McLaren team principal Ian James. “Both drivers have had a smooth integration into the team and have already been developing their skills in the simulator as part of their preparation.

“I’m glad we can provide Bianca and Ella with a platform to demonstrate their ability and build new career opportunities, as part of the championship’s commitment to develop their experience in motorsport. I’m looking forward to seeing how they get on in Valencia next month.”

Aside from Bustamante and Lloyd, also taking part in the female driver test will be Alisha Palmowski and Alice Powell for Envision Racing, and Chloe Chambers and Nerea Marti for Andretti. All teams will be required to run at least one driver, but will be encouraged to run two.

Bustamante becomes first female in McLaren driver development program

F1 Academy driver Bianca Bustamante has become the first female signed to McLaren’s driver development program and will race in the team’s colors in 2024. All Formula 1 teams will support at least one driver in F1 Academy next season, including …

F1 Academy driver Bianca Bustamante has become the first female signed to McLaren’s driver development program and will race in the team’s colors in 2024.

All Formula 1 teams will support at least one driver in F1 Academy next season, including running the livery on one of the cars. For McLaren, 18-year-old Bustamante has been signed ahead of the season finale at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, an event she goes into sitting seventh in the championship with two wins to her name.

“The team are delighted for Bianca to join us, and for McLaren to be involved in F1 Academy,” team principal Andrea Stella said. “It’s a core principle of ours to be a diverse and inclusive team, so we’re pleased to be so involved in Formula 1’s work on the important topic of improving gender diversity within motorsport. We also look forward to seeing Bianca grow and progress within the McLaren Racing driver development program under Emanuele (Pirro)’s guidance.”

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Bustamante has previously raced in W Series, Italian and UAE Formula 4 championships and USF Juniors, and Pirro says she’s shown potential that the team hopes to develop through next season.

“I’m pleased that Bianca is joining our driver development program,” Pirro said. “She’s a promising young talent who has a brilliant work ethic and is aligned closely to our team’s values. I look forward to working with Bianca on her development as a racing driver. We’re also excited for Bianca to be representing the team in the F1 Academy series and we look forward to seeing her race in papaya in 2024.”

The Filipino driver has raced for Prema in F1 Academy this year but will move to ART next season under the McLaren program, for which Cisco has been named as the primary partner.

“This is such an unreal moment in my career, to sign with McLaren and ART Grand Prix is way beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined growing up racing karts in the Philippines,” Bustamante said. “I still have a hard time seeing my name next to McLaren without getting emotional, as the history and heritage linked to this team leaves me truly speechless.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity as I believe I now have the best possible development structure around me to take the next step up in my career, and for this I am so thankful. 2023 was all about improving my speed which I demonstrated across several races this year, but in 2024 my aim is to establish consistency and improve my mental strength in order to make a title challenge in the coming F1 Academy season.

“For now, my focus is to finish off the F1 Academy season strongly here in Austin, but we’ll get to work immediately on the 2024 season,” she said. “I’ve never been more motivated in my life! A big thanks goes to Susie Wolff and the team at F1 Academy for fighting so hard for us girls and to give us this opportunity to be the best we can be. Additional thanks go to Zak Brown, Andrea Stella, Emanuele Pirro, Sebastian Philippe, my sponsors, and all my supporters for believing in me and making this all possible. I am full of gratitude, and I promise to give it my all.”

The three F1 Academy races over the USGP weekend, along with the two qualifying sessions and two practice sessions, will air live on ESPNEWS and stream on ESPN+. Click here for air times.