Bianca Bustamante joins McLaren Driver Development Programme

F1 Academy racer Bianca Bustamante signed with the McLaren Driver Development Programme.

F1 announced the development on Wednesday.

According to F1's website, the 18-year old racer became the first female driver to join the development programme which intends to help young racers in their motorsport career.

In the report, Bustamante said she is grateful to join the team.

"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," she said in the report.

"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."

 

 

 

 

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McLaren's team principal Andrea Stella welcomed Bustamante.

"The team are delighted for Bianca to join us, and for McLaren to be involved in F1 Academy. 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."

Back in May, Bustamante got her first career win at the F1 Academy Race.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News