Dennis Gaviola

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Nina Angela Mikaela Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17347138831211734713917187.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Bianca Bustamante. Courtesy: CBR Media"/>Bianca Bustamante. Courtesy: CBR Media</div>MANILA — Bianca Bustamante’s motorsport career is in full throttle in 2025.The 19-year-old Filipina racer is all locked in to compete in the 2025 GB3 Championship, the United Kingdom’s leading single-seater championship.Bustamante will race for UK-based team Elite Motorsport in what she regards as her “most important season of my career to date.”The GB3 Championship will use Tatuus MSV GB3-025 car which, for the first time in the series, will feature a Drag Reduction System (DRS). It also comes with a revised chassis, a 35-percent increase in downforce from a Formula 1-inspired CFD optimized aero package, and a 30bhp power upgrade. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17347140290001734714063991.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Tatuus MSV GB3-025 car to be used in the 2025 GB3 Championship. Courtesy: GB3 Championship"/>Tatuus MSV GB3-025 car to be used in the 2025 GB3 Championship. Courtesy: GB3 Championship</div>This also marks her first full season in single seaters competing against a mixed grid of male and female pilots.Bustamante’s move to this series builds up her momentum as she aims to land a seat in Formula 3.The Laguna-native speedster said she already had pre-season tests in Spain with her new team using the predecessor GB3 car.“We spent two days testing together in Spain last week with the old GB3 car, and it was very productive. We got off to a great start together and I felt comfortable with the team straight away, a really professional environment,” Bustamante said in a statement.“I’m also really enjoying the higher downforce cars, the GB3 car is very responsive which gives me confidence to find the limits. Honestly I can’t wait to jump into the new car in January, really excited to get started with Elite in 2025,” she added.The championship’s 2025 season comprised eight rounds, with four rounds each to take place in the UK and Europe. Each race weekend will have three races.The calendar will span from April to October in some of the most popular racing circuits. See the race schedule below:Round 1 - April 26-27Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit, UKRound 2 - May 17-18Zandvoort, NetherlandsRound 3 - May 31-June 1 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, BelgiumRound 4 - July 5-6Hungaroring, HungaryRound 5 - August 2-3Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit, UKRound 6 - August 23-24Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit, UKRound 7 - October 4-5Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit, UKRound 8 - October 18-19Monza Circuit, ItalyElite Motorsport owner and manager Eddie Ives expressed optimism on what Bustamante could achieve with the team.“It is very clear Bianca has a fantastic attitude combined with total professionalism. I’m confident that with these attributes along with her experience and success she’s already accomplished in such a short space of time, together with the skills of my excellent GB3 team, will no doubt lead to a fantastic season,” he said in a statement. <div>2024 season recap</div>This year saw Bustamante, a two-time F1 Academy race winner, through ups and downs in different race events.Bustamante took home 73 points to finish 7th in the 2024 F1 Academy season where donned the papaya colors as part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme.Her best outcome was a P2 podium in Miami, USA.She missed to make a follow up to the two victories she bagged in Spain and Italy in the women’s series’ inaugural season in 2023.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/19/23/bianca-bustamante-to-race-with-mclaren-in-f1-academy">READ: Bianca Bustamante to race with McLaren in F1 Academy 2024 </a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/5/5/bianca-bustamante-clinches-her-first-podium-in-f1-academy-2024-in-miami-347">READ: Bianca Bustamante clinches her first podium in F1 Academy 2024 in Miami</a></div>This year also marked her last season with the F1 Academy. According to the series’ rules, a driver is only allowed to race for a maximum of two seasons.Bustamante also made a debut appearance in the Formula Winter Series where she raced for three rounds in Spain ahead of the season opening of F1 Academy.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/2/7/bianca-bustamante-to-debut-in-2024-formula-winter-series-2323">READ: Bianca Bustamante to debut in 2024 Formula Winter Series</a></div>She also debuted at the F4 British Championship where she reinforced for one round the championship leading team Hitech GP.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/9/bianca-bustamante-to-debut-at-f4-british-championship-2318">READ: Bianca Bustamante to debut at F4 British Championship</a></div>She also competed in the final rounds of Euro 4 and Italian F4 championships.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/10/3/bianca-bustamante-to-compete-in-euro-4-italian-f4-championships-2048">READ: Bianca Bustamante to compete in Euro 4, Italian F4 championships</a></div>Among the highlights of her year was a P3 finish in the first-ever Formula E Women’s Test where she raced for the NEOM McLaren Formula E team.She also made headlines in November when she ranked 64th on the list of the top 150 Most Marketable Athletes in the world this year released by SportsPro Media and NorthStar Solutions Group.She was the lone Filipino among the 150 athletes.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/11/10/bianca-bustamante-is-lone-filipino-in-list-of-most-marketable-athletes-in-2024-2313">READ: Bianca Bustamante makes her mark as only Filipino in list of ‘most marketable athletes’ in 2024 </a></div>

Bianca Bustamante to race at GB3 Championship for 2025

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Bianca Bustamante to race at GB3 Championship for 2025

Nina Angela Mikaela Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 21, 2024 01:01 AM PHT

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