We caught up with a colleague of ours at Fortescue Zero (Amaan Khan) to gain his insight into early motorsport careers and how he has developed his skills so far.

Career Beginnings:

How did you get started in the motorsport industry?

I’ve had a passion for motorsport since my bachelor’s, following F1 closely since 10th grade and developing an interest in Formula E in 2017. This led me to join my university’s Electric Go-Kart racing team, competing in Formula Go-Kart championships across India. From there, I worked on high-performance electric motorcycles at a start-up, pursued a master’s in Automotive Engineering, and eventually joined Fortescue Zero (formerly Williams Advanced Engineering), a company I had long admired for its work in electric and hybrid motorsports

What inspired you to pursue a career in motorsport?

I’ve been a passionate car enthusiast since childhood, and my love for automobiles was my first spark for motorsports. With limited access to racing in India, I turned to YouTube, where I discovered Formula 1 during my higher school years (10th grade). I was mesmerized by the cutting-edge engineering behind these race cars—their dynamics, handling, speed, acceleration, and braking, all at their peak.

Determined to become an engineer, I chose Mechanical Engineering as my core degree, fuelled by my fascination with motorsports. To gain hands-on experience, I joined my university’s Electric Go-Kart team, where I learned the fundamentals of motorsport development and student competitions. After winning the National Student Go-Kart Championship, I knew I wanted a career in motorsports.

Aspiring to learn from the best, I pursued my master’s in a country renowned for its racing heritage. Inspired by legends like Gordon Murray and Adrian Newey, I set out to establish myself in the industry. After persistent applications across the motorsport sector, I secured a role at Fortescue Zero, marking the beginning of my professional journey in high-performance electric and hybrid motorsports.

Educational Background:

How did your Mechanical Engineering degree prepare you for your current role?

My Mechanical Engineering degree provided a strong foundation in design, materials, vehicle dynamics, and controls. I applied this knowledge while working on electric go-kart development for a national championship in India, where I discovered a passion for controls, simulations, and CAD design. To further refine my skills, I took on internships with various EV start-ups, gaining hands-on experience in electric vehicle technology.

After a year in the industry, I pursued a master’s at Cranfield, specializing in automotive engineering and motorsports. My thesis on cell simulation for a hypercar enhanced my understanding of battery systems in high-performance applications. This expertise ultimately led to my current role as a Graduate Control & Systems Engineer at Fortescue Zero, where I contribute to cutting-edge motorsport innovations.

Career Highlights:

Have you had any memorable experiences or achievements in your career so far that stand out to you?

My very first achievement came when my college team won the National Level Formula Karting design Championship. I worked on the Powertrain of the car. This gave me supreme confidence in deciding on pursuing motorsports.

While working for a start-up I got the chance to design the entire powertrain, drivetrain and HV, LV interface of a performance motorbike, and was instrumental in the development of the first prototype of the bike. I also got to ride the bike I helped develop which felt like an achievement.

Another performance bike start-up I worked for ( drivetrain and swingarm design and analysis) has very recently launched their bike.

I was responsible for the development and testing of the Pit Boost charger by Fortescue Zero being used in Formula E. I was responsible for the electrical system development, static and track testing and improvement of the boost charger which was very recently launched in the 11th season of ABB Formula E.

Industry Insights:

What trend or changes do you foresee shaping the future of motorsport?

Hybridisation and electrification is soon going to take a pole position in the world of motorsports. The likes of Formula 1, WEC, Indycar moving towards hybrid engine technology is proof of that.

Controls and simulations will dominate the world of motorsports, DIL , HIL and MIL simulations have already taken centre stage and provide teams with supreme amounts of data that could be used to develop a better car for the drivers without wasting too much production money.

Skills and Advice:

Do you have any advice for aspiring motorsport professionals?

Keep in touch with the advancements taking place in motorsports, all the new technology comes from motorsports and it is important to keep evolving with these developments.

Make as many connections as possible with people within the industry and always keep an eye out for openings based on your expertise.

Make sure your basic fundamentals are always clear. Motorsports is a game of basics, the stronger your basics, the better your chance of getting a ticket into the most advanced field of engineering.

Personal Reflections:

What do you enjoy most about working at Fortescue Zero?

Daily challenges – No two days are the same for me , some days I am working on a new development within a project to improve performance of a certain component, and some days I am out on the field testing the component on the actual product.

Knowing the capability and capacity of a certain product, e.g. the Boost charger, simply amazes me and makes me wonder what technology has achieved and still can achieve.

My team at Fortescue Zero is extremely respectful, supportive, motivating and super smart and very open to ideas even from a grad engineer. This motivates me to come to the office everyday and contribute to the development.

How do you stay motivated and passionate about finding work in such a competitive field?

As I said earlier, the team right from my mentor to my principal and chief engineer are extremely supportive and motivating. Even when I do something wrong i am appreciated for my efforts and am shown the correct direction without being criticised.

I always keep my head down and focus on the goals that I am supposed to achieve and make sure I deliver in the best way possible, and not think about what others are doing. This helps me keep myself focussed.

I use a goal-based approach to make sure I complete the task given to me in the best way possible. I never shy away from asking help from my colleagues when I get stuck at something.

A massive thank you to Amaan for taking the time to answer some of our questions. If you would like join us and share your industry insights please reach out to us at info@pitlanedevelopment.co.uk