We’re big fans of the F1 Academy – none of these ladies will actually make it to F1, but they are paving the way for more girls to enter the sport and leading the charge to show that women are more than able to fight with the boys. The F1 Academy was designed to give young female drivers a real path up the motorsport ladder and already, we’re seeing that mission come to life.
Abbi Pulling, the 2024 F1 Academy champion, made her GB3 debut at Silverstone this past weekend with Rodin Motorsport, and she didn’t waste any time making an impression. Pulling finished an impressive P5 in Race 1, mixing it up with some of the toughest up-and-coming talents in the UK single-seater scene. After the race, she said she was “delighted” with her debut and is already focused on building from here.
Bianca Bustamante, who finished seventh in last year’s F1 Academy standings, is also making the jump to GB3 this season, driving for Elite Motorsport. It’s a big step up, GB3 fields are packed with experience after all, but Bustamante showed flashes of promise across the Silverstone weekend as she adapts to the pace and intensity of the new series.
Right now, Pulling and Bustamante are the only two F1 Academy drivers from last year to step directly into GB3, highlighting just how tough the transition can be. But both are out there racing hard, learning fast, and showing that the F1 Academy is becoming a legitimate pipeline to bigger stages.
Marta Garcia: A Different Road, Same Determination
While Pulling and Bustamante focus on GB3, Marta Garcia, the 2023 F1 Academy champion, is carving out her own path. After her title win, Garcia joined the iconic Iron Dames program and has been making waves in endurance racing.
She recently had a heavy crash at Barcelona during the Le Mans Cup but shared a health update afterward, reassuring fans she’s recovering well. Marta’s move proves there’s more than one way to build a career after F1 Academy, whether it’s single-seaters, endurance, or beyond.
How They’re Stacking Up After Silverstone
After the first GB3 round, Pulling is sitting seventh in the championship, a strong start in a hugely competitive field. Bustamante is still finding her footing with 1 point to her name and sitting in 25th but gained crucial experience in the tricky Silverstone conditions.
There’s a long season ahead, and both drivers have every chance to keep climbing the standings as they get more seat time and experience.
The Bottom Line
Abbi Pulling and Bianca Bustamante stepping into GB3 is a huge moment for F1 Academy. They’re not just carrying the banner for the series, they’re proving that the path it’s trying to create is real.
And with Marta Garcia thriving in endurance racing, we’re seeing F1 Academy graduates succeed in all kinds of motorsport arenas.
This is just the beginning.