Honing his professional skills and knowledge, he was guided to success by such prominent names as Kamil Aliyev, Jafaraga Shiriyev and Project Manager Bulent Mersinli and eventually appointed Construction Manager for the prestigious Baku City Circuit Formula 1 track designed by Hermann Tilke. While working with Formula One international experts, he was able to showcase his expertise in the field, propelling his career to new heights.
With a clear vision of his further professional growth in mind, Gazanfar contacted International Racetrack safety expert Jan Kral in 2017. He was fortunate enough to get the chance to work with renowned Formula One project experts at Tilke. His professional experience gave him the confidence to work under pressure and deliver high quality results in tight deadlines in various corners of the world. This experience helped Gazanfar take his career to a new level, giving him the motivation to explore new opportunities and gain even more experience. Working on these international projects has been of immense benefit to him, as it opened up more avenues for him, enabling him to build a strong professional biography.
Here is a summary of the major milestones Gazanfar Jafarli has achieved so far.
- In 2017, a testing facility for autonomous cars was established in Arizona, USA, while Kuwait opened new Grade 1 racetrack and Sochi Grade 1racetrack was partially renovated.
- In 2018, India’s Mahindra company opened a testing facility for their cars.
- In 2019, Vietnam debuted a new Formula One racetrack.
- In 2020, the Istanbul Formula One racetrack underwent resurfacing work.
- In 2021, Jeddah saw the construction of a new Formula One City Circuit racetrack, with the distinction of being both the fastest city circuit and the fastest built racetrack.
- And in 2022, Seoul hosted Formula E racetrack partially inside the Olympic stadium.
- Currently working on resurfacing of Miami Formula One City Circuit and the inaugural race in Las Vegas Formula One City Circuit.
How did you learn this job?
Although I am fortunate to have been able to upgrade my biography with a professional job in road construction, I realize that I am not utilizing 95% of the knowledge that I acquired studying at ODTU(METU). Nevertheless, it was my hard work and dedication during my first summer internship in this field that enabled me to learn everything about the construction site. Although my coursework and studies primarily focused on the design and construction of buildings and high-rise structures, I had no prior experience in the realm of “vertical” construction. My attitude of not missing a single day on the job site remains with me to this day, and I am sure this will help me achieve great success in the future. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate enough to have the guidance of some of the brightest minds in the industry. Bulent Mersinli was the first to help me grow; through his professional advice and direction I acquired a thorough understanding of the intricacies and nuances of the construction industry. Jan Kral took it a step further with his dedication towards helping me reach new heights in my career. Now, I am honored to be able to rely on Dr. Robert Otto Rasmussen as my teacher and mentor, contributing to my further growth. He is the one person that I can trust with all my questions and concerns regarding the industry. His wisdom and experience have been incredibly valuable in helping me become the professional I am today. However, the biggest source of inspiration and motivation throughout this journey has been the unwavering support of my family. They have never let me feel alone in my pursuit of success, encouraging me to keep striving for excellence.
What did you learn in this job?
First of all, I learned that asphalt is not just a black mixture of stones and bitumen, and I am still learning a vast amount of details and know-how of racetrack asphalt (any special pavement), and how it has to withstand very different levels of stress under racing cars. This experience has surely given me a lot of knowledge about motorsport, which has been invaluable in furthering my professional career. I also learned the importance of teamwork and collaboration while working in this field. I am thankful that I got a chance to grow as a person by experiencing different cultures around the world. Being able to adapt to any country and circumstances without sharing a common language was an opportunity in itself. Being on my own far away from family, home, and friends taught me how to be independent. I believe this will be beneficial to me in the long run as it helps me take on challenges with confidence and ease.
How you see the future of this job?
There is an abundance of locations around the world that would make for ideal venues to host Formula One races, including private club tracks where the quality of the pavement is of paramount importance. Furthermore, the emergence of autonomous vehicles and the rapid advancement of automotive technology has created a demand for specialized testing facilities. The future is uncertain, and it remains to be seen where the evolution of these industries will lead us.
