Bianca Bustamante to represent PREMA in the upcoming winter series 4 UAE Championship happening across Dubai, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.
To start 2023, Filipina racer Bianca Bustamante announced she is joining Italian team PREMA for the 2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship, which will kick off on January 13 in a 40-car grid track across Dubai, Kuwait,and Abu Dhabi.
Bustamante said PREMA signing her is beyond her wildest dreams after coming off a lukewarm result in the Indian Racing League last November following W Series’ abrupt end due to funding issues that arose in October as reported by Spin.ph.
Bustante ended up placing 14th in the overall standings out of 19 drivers after garnering only two points in the shortened seven-round season.
“I’m super excited to kick off 2023 by getting straight back into the race car! F4 UAE is one of the toughest championships with over 40 cars but I’m looking forward to this challenge. This will be the best season preparation I can get as a driver, especially with PREMA Team,” said Bustamante in a statement.
The 17-year-old Laguna native will test the tracks behind the wheel of the new Tatuus F4 T421 GEN2, receiving ample seat time, in the race that consists of multiple test days, free practice, qualifying and three races per weekend in the upcoming winter series, reported PhilStar.
PREMA Racing, which prides itself as the "leading contender in junior single-seater racing," also welcomed the teen driver by issuing a statement.
“We are delighted to welcome Bianca for 2023 as she joins us for F4 UAE. We are really looking forward to working with her and I think Bianca will be an outstanding fit right from the start considering what she was able to achieve in her first season in single-seaters,” said Rene Rosin, team principal of PREMA.
For Bustamante, her signing with the Italian team is a step closer to reaching her ultimate goal of becoming the first Filipino in F1 history, made possible through the support from Lance East Office.
Tags: #racing, #UAE, #F1