It&rsquo;s pretty easy to get charmed by the motorsport&rsquo;s international rising star Bianca Bustamante, and here are five reasons to back that up.&nbsp;

Competing in a sport that&rsquo;s costs a lot of money and dominated by men presents challenges, yet it is achievable. Clearly, since it&rsquo;s evident that Filipina racing driver Bianca Bustamante has established herself as a formidable presence in the world of motorsport. Bianca's journey as a racing driver is nothing short of extraordinary and at such a very young age.&nbsp; At just 19-years-old, Bianca has made history as the first female racing driver to join the<a href="https://www.mclaren.com/racing/formula-1/2023/what-is-the-mclaren-driver-development-programme/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> McLaren Racing Driver Development Programme</a> and is the second full-time female driver to be signed by<a href="https://www.mclaren.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> McLaren</a>. These accomplishments demonstrate Bianca's grit and resiliency for what she does, which is why<a href="https://www.gotyme.com.ph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> GoTyme Bank</a>&mdash;the Philippines' next-level banking&mdash;is fully supportive of the athlete. During the recently concluded 3-day event<a href="https://www.lofficielph.com/culture/pinay-racer-bianca-bustamante-returns-to-the-philippines-for-race-to-inspire-even" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Race to Inspire,</a>&nbsp; GoTyme Bank Chief Marketing Officer Raymund Villanueva mentioned that it&rsquo;s Bianca&rsquo;s &ldquo;crazy ambition&rdquo; to break through in motorsport that resonated greatly with brands like GoTymeBank. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re a little small brand that didn't exist 20 months ago and then now, we're the fastest growing bank in the Philippines,&rdquo; he adds. GoTyme Bank is a key partner of Bianca, supporting the Race to Inspire meet &amp; greet that features her, as well as serving as an official bank partner for all her races in the F4 Italian Championship.

On Speaking of Money, a podcast created by GoTyme Bank, the<a href="https://www.mclaren.com/racing/formula-1/f1-academy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Mclaren</a> driver for the<a href="https://www.f1academy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> F1 Academy</a> recently had a one-on-one interview with model and host Sam Sadhwani about her passion in motorsport and being a teen. From the interview and articles, it&rsquo;s evident that Bianca has many lovable traits. Here are just five of them:
Refusing to Accept "No" as an Answer
Bianca's start in racing was anything but smooth, marked by significant challenges, but the teen persisted in her passion for driving, never accepting 'no' as an answer. In the interview, she mentioned that when she was younger, hearing 'no' would prompt her to do the opposite, a mindset that now drives her to overcome any barriers to achieving her goals. Despite the high costs associated with motorsport and the financial limitations of her household, Bianca remained determined to achieve her dream of becoming a racing driver. She leveraged social media and focused on building her brand to secure funding for her racing career. &ldquo;I just couldn't live with myself knowing that I couldn't do it. I wanted to do it. I wanted to show everyone that I could and show myself as well. There's no dream too big. As long as you have the determination and the power to back it all up,&rdquo; says Bianca.&nbsp;
Desire to Continue Learning
Bianca's passion to learn new things extends beyond how to become a more efficient racing driver. &ldquo;Art is my center,&rdquo; she shares. Aside from racing, Bianca admits that she loves photography, videography, editing, and making her own social media content. &ldquo;I draw portraits, I paint, and architecture sketching. That's something I always wanted to actually study when I go to college as well. So, you know, in hindsight, yes, I love being an athlete. But actually, I always love learning and learning new things,&rdquo; she adds. In some manner, she has managed to integrate her enthusiasm for art into her driving. &ldquo;I feel like because my center is art, when I drive, I see the racing lines. It's like it's like drawing&mdash;you know, you see, you envision it,&rdquo; Bianca shares. Embracing a growth mindset, as exemplified by Bianca, enhances both personal and professional development, contributing to her adaptability, creativity, and overall success.
Gives Importance to Overall Strength
Aside from training at the track, Bianca makes sure that her overall wellness is in top priority. She says in her Speaking of Money podcast interview that maneuvering race cars is difficult, which is why physical training is essential, especially for female racing drivers like herself. &ldquo;I had to train what caters to my body as a woman,&rdquo; says Bianca. She also emphasizes that it&rsquo;s not just about lifting at the gym; she must also ensure that several key parts of her body, like her neck, fingers, and toes, are strong enough to withstand the grueling sport that she&rsquo;s in. &ldquo;Even your toes because you need to have strengths in your fingers and your foot, or those tiny muscles that allows you to really maneuver the brakes,&rdquo; she explains. Bianca highlights the significance of mental strength during long races, noting that both external and internal distractions can adversely affect performance on the track. &ldquo;You always have to be able to mute that down or silence it when it matters the most,&rdquo; she says.&nbsp;

Philanthropic Heart
Bianca's heart is deeply rooted in her community. At the<a href="https://www.lofficielph.com/culture/pinay-racer-bianca-bustamante-returns-to-the-philippines-for-race-to-inspire-even" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Race to Inspire event</a>, she shared her philanthropic endeavor with<a href="https://marsatta.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Marsatta Chocolates</a>, a chocolate brand from the US. Collaborating with Chef Jeffray, they crafted a limited-edition<a href="https://marsatta.com/products/bianca-bustamante-ube-bar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Ube Brownie flavored bar</a>, a delectable treat that would give back. All proceeds from the sales were generously donated to Kusina Kalinga, a Gawad Kalinga initiative nourishing underprivileged children. " That&rsquo;s something that I feel deeply about," Bianca expressed. " As much as I am a driver, there are a lot of things that I am passionate about and I&rsquo;ve always wanted to help my community." The initial launch was a success, selling 500 chocolates, a testament to the community's support for this heartwarming initiative. She and Marsatta Chocolates created the ube brownie flavor to represent Filipino cuisine and culture globally.
Learning the Value of Money&nbsp;
Bianca understands the value of money and the importance of saving from an early age. She attributes this thinking to her Asian heritage. She admits that her discipline when it comes to racing also translates when it comes to her finances. &ldquo;Like my parents always tell me, &lsquo;would you rather buy that shoes or buy a set of tires?&rsquo; I'd rather buy a set of tires. I never actually spoiled myself with other material things,&rdquo; says Bianca. But, like any other teen, Bianca enjoys clothes and make-up; nonetheless, she would rather spend money on travel or activities such as scuba diving, taking art classes, and going to music festivals. &ldquo;The only thing I buy myself is probably experiences. I buy things that I can experience and I can always keep with me,&rdquo; she shares. Bianca's upbringing in a working-class household has given her a distinct perspective on racing. When she was younger and saw wealthier kids competing with new karts while she was racing with secondhand karts, she felt horrible for herself but it also helped her realize something. &ldquo;I realized that actually, it holds me into the driver I am now,&rdquo; says Bianca, &ldquo;because I learned the craft of driving with what you got and dealing with what you got&hellip; And to not take anything for granted; every single opportunity.&rdquo;
Learn more about Bianca Bustamante&rsquo;s life and career in motorsports by<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/33MYt8w4ZP1A2HmBOAjwAU?si=c587978c6dcf48fd" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> listening to</a> or<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@gotymebank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> watching</a> her interview on GoTyme Bank's podcast, Speaking of Money.&nbsp;

5 Things We Like About Filipina Racing Driver Bianca Bustamante

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