When a professional career path and passion meet

There are professional careers which are amazing or even exciting. Johan Aerts is today Safety Track Manager at the  Spa Francorchamps Circuit. And the journey he has followed before arriving in Francorchamps is rather a lovely story to tell. For 28 years, Johan brought his expertise to a large banking organisation, ending as manager for the business clients. But one day, aged 52, he asked himself the following question: "Is this what I want to continue doing until the end of my working life?" and there was already an answer to this question. His answer was "no".

You should know that Johan has always been passionate about motorsport. "I was already involved in motorsport, first as Track Marshal (I still have my heart amongst them) and afterwards as the manager of the marshals at Zolder and at the Zolder Race Control during races. I was also active on the track as a driver. From 1993 until 1997, I drove an Opel Corsa in the Touring Cup, endurance races. In 2010, I participated in a VW Fun Cup race in Zolder and the last 2 years in the BRAVO Championship with a BMW E30".

In short, for this enthusiast and after so many years in the banking sector, he decided to make his passion his occupation. He then saw a job offer ad for the circuit of Spa-Francorchamps which was looking for a Safety Track Manager. Of course he applied and was selected by the Circuit management.

Since then, Johan has been a happy man who can live his passion in daily life: "Sometimes I feel like a child in a toy shop". He has even participated this year at the 24 hours 2CV with colleagues from Race Control.

But that's not all. Johan recently won first prize for the "Most Radical Career Change" organised by SELOR. He was chosen from among 237 participants! He won a large majority of votes during the competition and think he knows the reason: "From Flanders to Wallonia, from the banking sector to the world of motorsport and all that in a completely different role, is certainly a big change of career. But I think that it's my enthusiasm that has charmed people. I am not talking abut my job but about my passion. And besides, it was my daughter who encouraged me to take part in this competition"