Bianca Bustamante Formula E test ends on high note with P3 finish

Photo from racerbia/Instagram

Blazing through the Circuito del Jarama, Filipino American driver Bianca Bustamante seized the spotlight in her Formula E debut, securing an impressive third-fastest time at the women’s test in Madrid on November 8.

Proving her capability in high-stakes motorsport settings, the first Filipina McLaren Development racer’s performance put her just shy of top contenders Abbi Pulling, the current F1 Academy championship leader and W Series standout Jamie Chadwick.

Despite the challenge of driving a Formula E car for the first time, Bustamante showed impressive pace, ending the session only fractions of a second behind Pulling and Chadwick, both of whom have extensive experience in electric racing.

Reflecting on the experience in an Instagram post, Bustamante shared how much this achievement meant to her and her supporters in the Philippines. 

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A post shared by Bianca Bustamante 🏁 (@racerbia)

“You guys have no idea how much this means to me and everyone back home,” she wrote, expressing gratitude for the hard work and preparation that made the day possible. 

She revealed the extensive time she spent in simulation training to ensure her best performance, saying, “We spent countless hours on the sim over the past few months to ensure I could make the most of this test. Driving what is probably the fastest car I’ve ever been in, it was a huge step in the McLaren Gen 3 Evo from F4.”

Bustamante also emphasized the thrill of driving one of the fastest cars she’s ever encountered, calling it “a huge step” from her previous experience in F4.

Working alongside McLaren’s highly professional team proved invaluable, she said, helping her refine her skills and gain confidence as a driver. Her excitement was evident as she hinted at the momentum she’s carrying forward into her next test in Qatar, where she hopes to build on her recent success. 

“We showed good pace and ending the test in P3! Great day, lots of things to carry forward! Especially as we’re back in the car in 2 days for the F1 Academy test in Qatar,” she added.