Bustamante impresses at Imola

MANILA: Filipina race driver Bianca Bustamante displayed significant consistency in Round 3 of the 2026 Eurocup-3 Championship at the historic Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy.

To note, Bustamante is the only female driver in the 30-strong grid. Further, the Laguna, Philippines native competes using the all-new Dallara 326 with Palou Motorsport, which is considered the most challenging and technically advanced machinery of her career to date. 

“Imola holds such a special history, and it was truly an honor to be driving my heart out and racing there at the weekend,” Bustamante was quoted as saying.

“It was a great result for me at Imola in such a competitive championship and at a demanding new circuit, which my team kept reminding me of,” she added. 

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22 positions up

Bustamante gained a combined total of 22 positions across the weekend through smart, composed driving.

At first, the 21-year-old driver climbed nine places to finish P15 in Race 1, following that up by moving forward eight places to P16 in Race 2, and closed out the weekend by advancing five spots to P19 in Race 3. 

On that note, Bustamante is fast becoming known for her race craft and tenacity — overcoming a challenging qualifying to deliver three composed recovery drives.

Steep learning curve 

While the upward trajectory, improved race pace, and clean overtakes were a testament to the hard work Bustamante is putting in alongside Palou Motorsport with technical support from PREMA Racing, she was open about the emotional weight of her ambition.

For Bustamante, chasing her first championship points in a fiercely competitive international grid during the weekend has served as a reminder of the monumental challenge she has undertaken as the sole female driver in the series. 

“I improved my race pace, my driving technique, made good passes, stayed smart and composed, didn’t make any costly mistakes, and gained positions every race,” Bustamante noted.

“But somehow, I still had a tear in my eye after the checkered flag. I was so close, yet so far from scoring my first points.” she said.

“For a bit, I couldn’t see all the positives that this weekend really showed. I honestly can’t thank my team enough for helping me see all the good that I couldn’t see myself: I fought consistently within the top 15. I was there. And it is crazy to think that we still have five more race weekends to make progress. I am going to make every single one of them count,” Bustamante commented. 

There are still five rounds remaining in the 2026 Eurocup-3 Championship, and Bustamante shifts her focus to another legendary Italian venue, with Round 4 taking place at the Temple of Speed, Monza, from July 31 to August 2. 

Also read:

Bianca Bustamante shines with podium finish on F1 Academy debut

Bianca Bustamante headlines motorsport-themed event in SM MOA

Bustamante is McLaren Driver Development Program’s 1st female driver

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