How hard was it for her to make headway in racing?
There's only room for one driver in a motorsport race. It's just the driver, the car, and the circuit against the clock and every other racer.
For Filipina racer Bianca Bustamante, it hasn't always been a very smooth ride. It's muddy, it's bumpy, and it's filled with potholes.
And the road was especially difficult for Bustamante since she hails from Southeast Asia.
"I think one of the reasons why it's so hard is because of the lack of opportunities for Southeast Asian drivers. Motorsport is not for the masses, it's not a household sport yet, so often we're not given enough support or enough insights," the F1 Academy sensation shared on One News' The Big Story on Tuesday.
"It's very expensive. It's probably one of the most expensive sports in the world. You need a car, you need a team, you need a track. It was always so difficult to be Filipino in this sport and often I would feel at a disadvantage," Bustamante admitted.
The pride of Laguna, the first-ever female to be recruited by McLaren in its development program, is very aware of how much it costs since she came from a middle-class family.
"My dad was working three jobs as a construction worker overseas. I know what it feels like to just be knocking doors on people asking for help, asking for money, asking for support," Bustamante shared.
"So, I've used every tool I can to make it in racing," she added. "I've used every tool I have such as social media, endorsements, sponsorships, and kind of also learning about the business side of racing. Because it takes millions to race cars but most of the time, the money doesn't come from your own pocket. It comes from everything else and having to learn all of that."
Not only does she hope to represent the Philippines well, she also wants her tough journey to be an inspiration for others who are plying the same road.
"I guess it breaks barriers and that stereotype that motorsport is for the rich," said Bustamante.
And she is not just breaking barriers with participation trophies. She picked up two victories with Prema Racing in the F1 Academy.
She's also looking to make more history with McLaren, one of the most storied brands in motorsports history.
"Imagine telling this little girl from the Philippines, who was often told to dream less, so she'll achieve something alive to actually one day sign with McLaren. Obviously, I was over the moon," Bustamante gushed.
She recently got to drive in the Formula 4 Macau Grand Prix as part of Black Arts Racing Bar, albeit she didn't get the ending she wanted.
Bianca is just 18. But she's already driving with more than a nation's dreams.
"I don't often just race for myself. I think there's always an end goal to it all, and the fact that I'm here now, it's not just my own merit," she shared.
"It's about opening doors for everyone else that will come in the future, opening doors for the next generation, I think that's what it really is. To be the first-ever female driver in the McLaren development program, it's opening doors for young girls and boys that will come in the future that might be from an underdeveloped country or for someone that isn't so wealthy."
As Bustamante continues to pave the way, there could be a next racer from the Philippines who would not be told to dream less.
(PM)