Bianca Bustamante elevates career with CUPRA KIRO Formula E role

Filipino racing sensation Bianca Bustamante is making significant strides in her motorsport career, officially joining the CUPRA KIRO Formula E team as their new Development Driver. This pivotal role marks a new chapter for the 20-year-old, further solidifying her path in the world of single-seater racing.

The announcement comes after Bustamante’s impressive performance at the 2024 Formula E all-women test in Jarama, Spain, where she notably posted the third-fastest time. Her raw talent and quick adaptation to the electric machinery clearly caught the eye of the CUPRA KIRO management.

As a Development Driver, Bustamante will be deeply integrated into the team’s operations. Her first official appearance in CUPRA KIRO’s distinctive copper and fluorescent yellow livery will be at the upcoming 2025 Jakarta E-Prix this weekend (June 20-21). While there, she will be shadowing the team’s full-time drivers, Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann, absorbing invaluable insights into the intricacies of Formula E racing.

Bustamante’s first on-track opportunity for CUPRA KIRO is scheduled for July 14, 2025, at the Berlin E-Prix. She will participate in Formula E’s annual rookie test at the challenging Tempelhof Street Circuit, a venue known for its unique and demanding layout. To prepare for this, the team will provide her with extensive simulator sessions and technical briefings.

“I’m really excited to join CUPRA KIRO as the team’s Development Driver as I continue my Formula E journey,” Bustamante stated. “In the very short time that we’ve been working together, it’s been incredible to experience the team’s disruptive approach to racing in action and to see the team’s hunger and desire for success first-hand.”

BREAKING NEWS

Bianca Bustamante will line up for @KiroRaceCo in the Berlin Rookie Test! pic.twitter.com/VgswG8amIB

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) June 17, 2025

She added, “Working with Dan, David, and the team is an invaluable opportunity for me at this stage of my career, and I’m looking forward to applying everything I learn into the GB3 Championship in 2025. I’m excited to absorb everything on-site in Jakarta and of course, to drive the team’s current Season 11 car in Berlin this July.”

Russell O’Hagan, Chief Operating Officer of CUPRA KIRO, expressed his enthusiasm for welcoming Bustamante to the team. “Since stepping up to single-seater racing only three years ago, Bianca has not only proven that she is a force to be reckoned with but has become one of the leading voices in promoting female participation in motorsport by widening the industry’s talent pipeline,” he remarked.

This new role with CUPRA KIRO runs concurrently with Bustamante’s participation in the GB3 Championship, where she continues to hone her skills in a competitive single-seater environment. Her progression highlights the increasing opportunities for talented female drivers in top-tier motorsport and underscores her dedication to reaching the pinnacle of racing.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.