Bustamante joins Cupra Kiro Formula E team

Cupra Kiro Formula E team has signed Bianca Bustamante as its official development driver.

The Filipino driver will make her first appearance with the team at this weekend's Jakarta E-Prix, shadowing race drivers Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann, then will drive for the team at the rookie test following the Berlin E-Prix on July 14.

“I’m really excited to join Cupra Kiro as the team’s development driver as I continue my Formula E journey,” said Bustamante. “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.

“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.”

Bustamante was formerly a part of McLaren's young driver program, and drove for NEOM McLaren at the female driver test at jarama at the tail end of last year, where she set the third-fastest time. She is currently competing in the GB3 series in the UKfollowing stints in W Series, Formula 4 UAE, and F1 Academy, where she was a two-time race winner in her first season.

“On behalf of the team, I’m delighted to welcome Bianca to Cupra Kiro,” said Russell O’Hagan, chief operating officer at Cupra Kiro. “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.

“Opening and fostering opportunities for next generation racing drivers is integral to the future of our sport, and while we’re looking forward to seeing Bianca’s contribution to Cupra Kiro, we’re equally excited to support her own development as an athlete. I can’t wait to see her embed herself in the team over the coming weeks ahead of her rookie test outing in Berlin.”

Bustamante is the third driver so far confirmed for the Berlin rookie test alongside Ella Lloyd (McLaren) and Abbie Pulling (Nissan).

Topics

cupra kiro

bianca bustamante

formula e

jakarta e-prix

berlin e-prix

neom mclaren

gb3 championship

w series

f1 academy

Formula E

Dominik Wilde

Dominik often jokes that he was born in the wrong country – a lover of NASCAR and IndyCar, he covered both in a past life as a junior at Autosport in the UK, but he’s spent most of his career to date covering the sliding and flying antics of the U.S.’ interpretation of rallycross. Rather fitting for a man that says he likes “seeing cars do what they’re not supposed to do”, previously worked for a car stunt show, and once even rolled a rally car with Travis Pastrana. He was also comprehensively beaten in a kart race by Sebastien Loeb once, but who hasn’t been?

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