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16-year-old Filipino karting prodigy Bianca Bustamante was selected as the only Asian woman to take part in a prestigious shooting competition in Marseille, France – the Girls on Track Rising Stars program.
If that doesn’t sound like a lot to you, it’s actually run by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body of many of the world’s most famous racing events, including Formula 1.
But what really excites people is what happens to the last remaining driver: a Ferrari Driver Academy scholarship which could then lead to a full career at more advanced and prestigious motorsport events.
The FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars Shoot-Out will take place October 21-23, 2021.
PICTURE: @racerbia / Instagram
In the three-day shootout on the world-famous Circuit Paul Ricard, Bianca and 13 other drivers fight in the senior category for supremacy on the track.
The eight best juniors and seniors will be divided into two camps – karting and Formula 4.
PICTURE: @racerbia / Instagram
The best four drivers from each camp then complete a week-long training camp at Ferrari in Fiorano, Italy. From there a driver will be selected who will compete in the international kart season with the full support of Ferrari as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy scholarship.
Even if this doesn’t sound too impressive to someone who doesn’t know the world of racing, many Formula 1 drivers started their careers in karting.
PICTURE: @racerbia / Instagram
Some notable names include former Ferrari Driver Academy alumni, including Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari), Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin Cognizant), Mexican Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) and Mick Schumacher (Uralkali Haas F1. ). ), Son of the legendary seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
Bianca started racing at the tender age of five.
PICTURE: @racerbia / Instagram
The now 16-year-old Filipino racing driver has already won several kart championships across Asia. The next goal is of course to make it into formula racing, so a Ferrari scholarship would definitely help pave that path.
“Thanks to the FIA for choosing me as one of the 14 drivers for the scholarship shoot-out Girls On Track – Rising Stars. I’ve fallen in love with racing since I was a child and haven’t stopped preparing for this moment, “said Bianca.
“Now that this is a reality, I will continue to work hard to be selected for the Ferrari Driving Academy’s racing scholarship. I’m so proud to represent the Philippines in this competition and being the only Asian driver selected is an added bonus, but it also increases the pressure to represent the Asia region versus the global field. “
Bianca has a number of successes under his belt, including:
1.Four-time winner of the China Grand Prix Kart Scholarship (2018-2019)
2. Three-time Macau International Kart GP Champion (2014, 2018, 2019)
3. Two-time Junior Asian Karting Open Championship – overall winner (2018, 2019)
4. Three-time Filipino Driver of the Year – Kart (2018, 2019, 2020)
5th Philippines National Junior Karter of the Year (2018)
Pretty impressive to say the least.
Stay up to date on Instagram with Bianca and her path to the Ferrari Driver Academy.
We cheer you on, Bianca!
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Cover photo from @racerbia / Instagram and @racerbia / Instagram.
The post The Philippine kart queen is the only Asian woman in the race for the Ferrari scholarship first appeared on monter-une-startup.
