Michele Bumgarner
Encyclopedia
Michele Marie Bumgarner (born September 2, 1989 in Mandaluyong City
) is a Filipina
racing driver. She was born to a German father and a Filipina mother. She made her debut into single seater racing with the National Karting Series in the Philippines in 1999 at the age of 10. She has participated in the Asia-Pacific Karting Championships Japan
, Shell Super Karting Series, Asian Karting Open Championship (AKOC), and the Italian Masters Series.
In 2006 Bumgarner made her auto racing debut driving in the Asian Formula Three Championship
, finishing third in the series' Promotion Class.
She competed in the first five rounds of the 2008 Star Mazda Championship season
for John Walko Racing. Her best finish was 15th place coming in her final start at Portland International Raceway
.
On September 19, 2008, she became the first female champion of the Rock Island Grand Prix in Rock Island, Illinois
, the world’s largest street karting
race. The 7th foreign-born winner in its 14-year history, Michele steered the Margay Team to a 1-2-3-4 finish with 11 minutes and 24.144 seconds. She said: “This will stick with me my whole career. Everyone goes on about how great this race is and it’s special that this is my first time here and my first win here. I hope to come back.”
On September 6, 2009 she successfully defended that title in a three kart battle.
In November 2008 it was announced that Bumgarner had signed a driver development contract to race in the Firestone Indy Lights series with Walker Racing
. She participated in a test with Guthrie Racing
However, Walker Racing entered the 2009 Indy Lights season
fielding a car for Stefan Wilson
rather than Bumgarner and as of 2011 she has not driven in an Indy Lights race and she has not participated in a professional auto race since 2008.
Mandaluyong City
The City of Mandaluyong is one of the cities and municipalities that comprise Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the west by the country's capital, Manila, to the north by San Juan City, to the east by Quezon City and Pasig City, and by Makati City to the south...
) is a Filipina
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
racing driver. She was born to a German father and a Filipina mother. She made her debut into single seater racing with the National Karting Series in the Philippines in 1999 at the age of 10. She has participated in the Asia-Pacific Karting Championships Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Shell Super Karting Series, Asian Karting Open Championship (AKOC), and the Italian Masters Series.
In 2006 Bumgarner made her auto racing debut driving in the Asian Formula Three Championship
Asian Formula Three Championship
The Asian Formula Three Championship was a single-seater racing series based in South East Asia. It is one of a number of national and international Formula Three championships that form part of an established "career ladder" below Formula One. It was sanctioned by the Automobile Association of the...
, finishing third in the series' Promotion Class.
She competed in the first five rounds of the 2008 Star Mazda Championship season
2008 Star Mazda Championship season
The 2008 Star Mazda Championship Season was a season of the open wheel racing series the Star Mazda Championship. It consisted of a 12-race schedule beginning in March and ending in October, with only the best eleven race results counting towards the championship. As with 2007, the series featured...
for John Walko Racing. Her best finish was 15th place coming in her final start at Portland International Raceway
Portland International Raceway
Portland International Raceway is located in Portland, Oregon, USA's, Delta Park complex on the former site of Vanport, just south of the Columbia River. It is west of a light rail station and less than a mile west of Interstate 5....
.
On September 19, 2008, she became the first female champion of the Rock Island Grand Prix in Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
, the world’s largest street karting
Kart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
race. The 7th foreign-born winner in its 14-year history, Michele steered the Margay Team to a 1-2-3-4 finish with 11 minutes and 24.144 seconds. She said: “This will stick with me my whole career. Everyone goes on about how great this race is and it’s special that this is my first time here and my first win here. I hope to come back.”
On September 6, 2009 she successfully defended that title in a three kart battle.
In November 2008 it was announced that Bumgarner had signed a driver development contract to race in the Firestone Indy Lights series with Walker Racing
Walker Racing
Walker Racing is a racing team founded by Derrick Walker in 1991 racing originally in the CART Championship Car series. Presently the team competes in the Firestone Indy Lights series.-Early success:...
. She participated in a test with Guthrie Racing
Guthrie Racing
Guthrie Meyer Racing is a former Firestone Indy Lights Series team.The team started in 2005 as Guthrie Racing owned by 1997 IndyCar Series “Rookie of the Year” winner and 1997 Phoenix race winner Jim Guthrie. The team began running in the Star Mazda Pro Series in 2005 with numerous podium and top...
However, Walker Racing entered the 2009 Indy Lights season
2009 Indy Lights season
The 2009 Indy Racing League Firestone Indy Lights season began April 4 in St. Petersburg, Florida, where it ran a double-header weekend in support to the season-opening IndyCar Series event. The schedule will take place over 14 race weekends in support of the IndyCars, with 15 total races. Unlike...
fielding a car for Stefan Wilson
Stefan Wilson
Stefan James Wilson is a British racing driver. He is the younger brother of former Formula One and current IndyCar Series driver Justin Wilson...
rather than Bumgarner and as of 2011 she has not driven in an Indy Lights race and she has not participated in a professional auto race since 2008.
Motorsport distinctions
- Selected for 2005 BMW Scholarship Award by Formula BMW Racing School in Bahrain
- 2004 Overall Champion Asian Karting Zone Championship for Open Class
- 2004 Runner-Up for Super Series Karting Philippines Open Class
- 2004 Recipient of GOLDEN WHEEL for Motorsports Driver of the Year
- 2004 Runner-Up for Formula Toyota Championships BRC
- 2004 Automobile Association of the Philippines Motorsports Award
- 2004 Philippines Sportwriters' Association Citation for Karting
- 2003 Karter of the Year, Philippines
- 2003 Motorsports Driver of the Year, Philippines
- 2003 Asian Intercontinental Junior Karting Champion