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| Jean Behra | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jean Behra |
| Caption | Jean Behra in 1959 |
| Birth date | 1921-02-01 |
| Birth place | Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France |
| Death date | 1959-08-01 |
| Death place | Berlin, West Germany |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
Jean Behra was a French race car driver prominent in Formula One and sports car racing during the 1950s. He competed for teams including Maserati, BRM, Ferrari, Porsche and Lancia and also rode motorcycles, achieving success in events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Mille Miglia, and the Monaco Grand Prix. Behra was known for an aggressive driving style and intense personality, which influenced his career and legacy in motor racing.
Born in Nice in 1921, Behra grew up in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region near the Mediterranean Sea and the French Riviera, an area frequented by Grand Prix activity and automotive culture. He developed mechanical skills working with automobile mechanics and local workshops, and was influenced by nearby events such as the Monaco Grand Prix and the Cannes meetings. After World War II he entered club races in France and regional circuits like Monaco and Marseille, which led to invitations from factory teams and privateers based in Milan, Turin, and Modena.
Behra's early competitive appearances included local endurance races and hillclimbs in the Alps and on Mediterranean circuits, driving Simca, Talbot-Lago, and later Maserati machinery. He progressed to international events including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio, and the Mille Miglia, contesting against drivers such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Alberto Ascari, Mike Hawthorn, and Phil Hill. Behra scored victories and podiums in Formula Two and sports car events while competing for factory entrants like Osca and Gordini, and for independent teams such as Ecurie Francorchamps and Equipe Nationale Belgique.
Behra made entries in Formula One World Championship Grands Prix and appeared for teams including Maserati, BRM, Ferrari, and Porsche as the category evolved through the 1950s. He achieved points finishes and podiums at rounds like the French Grand Prix, the German Grand Prix, and the British Grand Prix, and contested non-championship races such as the Gorica meetings and the BRDC International Trophy. Behra's teammates and rivals included figures from Scuderia Ferrari, Vanwall, Cooper Car Company, BRM P25 campaigns, and independent efforts by Maserati 250F entrants. Behra contributed to constructors' efforts in events overseen by the FIA and raced on circuits such as Reims-Gueux, Spa-Francorchamps, Nürburgring Nordschleife, and Monza.
Beyond single-seaters, Behra competed in endurance events for manufacturers like Maserati, Porsche, Lancia, Ferrari, and OSCA at races including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio, and the 1000 km Buenos Aires. He partnered with drivers such as Luigi Musso, Olivier Gendebien, Giovanni Bracco, Harry Schell, and Jean Lucas. Behra also raced motorcycles in national and international meetings against competitors from MV Agusta and Norton, sampling machines and transferring road-racing skill between two and four wheels. His versatility saw him contest hillclimbs, rally stages in events like the Monte Carlo Rally (in support roles), and circuit endurance races run by organizations including the Automobile Club de France and Automobile Club d'Italia.
Behra was recognized for an aggressive, wheel-to-wheel approach exemplified at circuits such as Monaco, Spa, and Imola. He gained reputations among contemporaries like Fangio, Moss, Ascari, Tony Brooks, and Peter Collins for tenacity and mechanical sympathy, eliciting praise from team principals at Scuderia Ferrari and Maserati. Behra's temperament sometimes led to confrontations with mechanics, marshals, and officials from organizations including the FIA and national sporting authorities, affecting relationships with patrons and factory managers in Modena and Bologna.
Behra lived between Nice and locations near European racing hubs such as Monza, Modena, and Milan, associating with figures from Scuderia Ferrari, Maserati Corse, and privateer circles. His social and professional network included fellow drivers like Jean-Pierre Wimille, Louis Chiron, Robert Manzon, Maurice Trintignant, and team managers from Enzo Ferrari’s outfit, Alf Francis’s crews, and the leadership at BRM and Porsche Motorsport. Behra maintained friendships with engineers from firms such as Dino projects and contacts in the indycar-adjacent scenes in Indianapolis through transatlantic entries and exchanges.
Jean Behra died tragically in 1959 following a crash during a support race for the German Grand Prix at the AVUS circuit in Berlin. His death, alongside incidents involving contemporaries such as Stuart Lewis-Evans and Peter Collins, contributed to increased focus on circuit safety at venues like the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Monza, and Spa-Francorchamps, influencing later measures adopted by the FIA and national clubs. Behra's memory is preserved by historians of motor sport and institutions such as The Royal Automobile Club, Automobile Club de France, and museums showcasing Maserati 250F and Porsche 550 cars, and he is commemorated in periodicals and works documenting the golden age of Grand Prix motor racing.
Category:French racing drivers Category:Formula One drivers