Bianca Bustamante lands on Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list
Photo from racerbia/Instagram
From karting in the Philippines to racing on European circuits, Filipino American racing prodigy Bianca Bustamante continues to break barriers, and now, she’s a Forbes honoree too.
Becoming an inspiration to young athletes and dreamers worldwide, the 20-year-old racer has just been named to the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
The annual list recognizes trailblazers and game-changers under the age of 30 who are transforming their respective industries across Europe.
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Bustamante, who has been making waves in motorsports as one of the few women in professional racing – and the first Filipina to compete in the F1 Academy – earned her spot through sheer grit, talent and unwavering determination.
In an emotional Instagram post, Bustamante shared her gratitude. “That’s me… Gosh, putting this into writing feels unreal,” she wrote. “We’ve been selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.”
She admitted she had submitted her application without much expectation, knowing the competition was fierce.
“Not gonna lie, I applied and sent over the application, answered the questions without ever thinking I’d actually get selected, especially with thousands of other nominations,” she said. “And this morning I woke up to this, still completely speechless hahaha.”
Reflecting on her childhood dreams, Bustamante expressed how surreal it felt to be recognized on such a global stage. She recalled the innocence of her younger self, simply wanting “to drive till the sun went down,” never imagining the international spotlight she would one day stand under.
Behind the scenes, she noted, the journey has been anything but easy. There’s been relentless hard work that often goes unseen, and she’s well aware that this is only the beginning. “I’ll have to keep pushing my limits,” she acknowledged.
Bustamante ended her message with heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of her journey, calling the recognition “a great source of motivation” as she steps into a new chapter of her career. “Can’t wait to see where the future takes us,” she added.
Having completed the maximum two seasons in the F1 Academy, where she consistently finished seventh and made history as the program’s first Filipina driver, she is now shifting gears toward her next big opportunity as she is now joining the 2025 GB3 Championship under Elite Motorsport.
