# Birabongse Bhanudej

Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh (Thai: พีรพงศ์ภาณุเดช; RTGS: Phiraphong Phanudet; 15 July 1914 – 23 December 1985), commonly known as Prince Bira of Siam or simply Prince Bira, was a member of the Thai royal family. Bira was also a racing driver, sailor and pilot, who competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1954 and at four editions of the Summer Olympics between 1956 and 1972.
A member of the Chakri dynasty, Bira studied at Eton College before he began competing in Grand Prix motor racing in 1935, later advancing to Formula One for its inaugural 1950 season. He competed for several teams including Platé, Gordini, Connaught, Milano and Maserati, amongst other privateer entries in Maserati machinery. Across five seasons and 19 Grands Prix, Bira scored several points finishes, including fourth-placed finishes at the 1950 Swiss Grand Prix and the 1954 French Grand Prix, amongst two non-championship race victories. He remained the only Southeast Asian to compete in Formula One until Malaysian driver Alex Yoong in 2001, and the only Thai driver until Alexander Albon in 2019. Outside of Formula One, Bira won the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1955, driving the Maserati 250F. Bira also competed in sailing events at four Summer Olympic Games and was an amateur pilot, flying from London to Bangkok in his own twin-engine Miles Gemini aircraft in 1952.
Bira is credited with establishing the racing colours of Thailand: pale blue and yellow. Upon his death in December 1985, the Bira Circuit was built in his honour, becoming the first motor racing circuit in Thailand to meet FIA standards.

## Early life

Bira's parents were Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse and his second wife. Bira's paternal grandfather was King Mongkut, loosely portrayed in the Hollywood movies The King and I and Anna and the King. His mother died when Bira was only four years old. Bira was sent to Europe in 1927 to complete his education in England at Eton College, where he joined one of his nephews, a grandchild of his father through his first marriage. While he was at Eton Bira's father died, leaving him an orphan. He was placed under the care of his cousin, Prince Chula Chakrabongse, who ultimately became Bira's legal guardian. On leaving Eton at age 18, in early 1933, Bira moved in with Prince Chula in London, while he decided on his future.
Bira had been registered to attend Trinity College, Cambridge, but had not passed the Cambridge University entrance examination. Initially, Prince Chula hired a tutor for Bira, to better prepare him for the exam, but Bira changed his mind and expressed a desire to learn sculpture rather than attend university. Prince Chula approached leading sculptor Charles Wheeler, and Wheeler took Bira on as a pupil within his studio. Although Bira showed some talent as a sculptor, in Wheeler's opinion he needed to learn to draw, and so in the autumn of 1934 Bira enrolled at the Byam Shaw School of Art. Bira did not attend the Byam Shaw School for very long, but while there he became friendly with a fellow student, Ceril Heycock, and he began courting her in earnest only a few weeks later. However, both Prince Chula and her parents placed severe limitations on their relationship, and it was not until 1938 that they were able to marry.

## Auto racing

Bira first raced with his cousin Prince Chula's team, White Mouse Racing, driving a Riley Imp at Brooklands in 1935. In this car Bira established the national motor racing colours of Siam: pale blue with yellow. He raced under the name 'B Bira'. He later lived near Geneva, Switzerland, and in the south of France.
Later in 1935, Prince Chula gave him one of the new ERA voiturette racing cars—R2B, which was nicknamed Romulus. Bira finished second in his first ever race in Romulus, despite needing to stop for repairs. The remaining races of the season saw Bira consistently placing among the more powerful Grand Prix vehicles, with another second place, and fifth at the Donington Grand Prix.
For 1936 the princes decided that the previous season's results merited a second ERA. They purchased chassis R5B (which Bira named Remus) to use in British events and retained Romulus for international races. Chula also purchased a Maserati 8CM to complete the White Mouse roster. Bira's expertise behind the wheel earned him the Coupe de Prince Rainier at Monte Carlo. Bira won a further four races in the ERAs that season, and took the Grand Prix Maserati to 5th at Donington and 3rd at Brooklands. This was the high point for Bira and the White Mouse team.
Following Dick Seaman's move to Mercedes for 1937, the Thais purchased his Grand Prix Delage and all of its spare parts, along with a second Delage. Despite several upgrades, and hiring experienced race engineer and future Jaguar team manager Lofty England, the cars underperformed, and on many occasions Bira raced in the older and by now substantially inferior ERAs. In addition, the money spent on the Delage upgrades had sapped the resources of the team and corners were being cut in the ERA's race preparations. Later in the year White Mouse did invest in a newer C-Type ERA, chassis R12C. R12C came to be known as Hanuman, and Bira attached a large, embossed, silver badge depicting the Hindu deity after whom he had named the car. Following a major accident in 1939 Hanuman was rebuilt back to B-Type specifications, and in light of this major overhaul Bira renamed the car Hanuman II.
While Bira maintained a respectable results tally in British events, the more costly international races were largely a disaster.
After the war, Bira returned to racing with several teams. He took part in the inaugural World Drivers' Championship in 1950 racing a supercharged Maserati 4CLT/48, starting four Championship races including the first, at Silverstone, where he was obliged to retire from the race with a fuel feed problem, but finished fifth at Monaco and fourth at Bremgarten the same season, giving him five points and finishing eighth in the Championship. 1950 was his best season; Bira took part in each Championship season until 1954, starting a total of 19 races, but only scored points in one more race - a fourth place at Reims in 1954 provided three points and seventeenth place in the Championship. In 1951 he raced in an old Maserati 4CLT fitted with a newer V12 Osca engine. No results were obtained this year as a result of the poor performance of the car combined with a severe accident. By 1954, with a newer car, a Maserati 250F, he won the Grand Prix des Frontières on the Chimay road circuit and then finished fourth in the 1954 French Grand Prix with his own Maserati. In January 1955, he won the New Zealand Grand Prix at Ardmore; he retired at the end of that season.
Bira returned to racing for the one-off Macau Grand Prix Race of Giants in 1978, finishing 13th.

## Sailing

Bira competed in sailing events at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in the Star, 1960 Rome Olympics in the Star, 1964 Tokyo Olympics in the Dragon and the 1972 Munich Olympics in the Tempest. In the 1960 Games he competed against another former Formula One driver, Roberto Mieres, who finished seventeenth, ahead of the prince at nineteenth.

## Death

Bira died at Barons Court tube station in London on 23 December 1985. He collapsed and died having suffered a major heart attack, but as he carried no identification with him, his body could not initially be identified. A handwritten note was found in his pocket by the Metropolitan Police and was sent for analysis at the University of London, where it was shown as being written in Thai and addressed to Bira. The Thai Embassy was notified, and realised his significance. A Thai funeral service was held at the Wat Buddhapadipa in Wimbledon, and he was later cremated according to Thai and Buddhist tradition and customs.

## Other honors

Bira Circuit, based just outside Pattaya, Thailand, is named after Bira.
In 2016, in an academic paper that reported a mathematical modeling study that assessed the relative influence of driver and machine, Bira was ranked the forty-third best Formula One driver of all time.

## Development of the Thai racing colours

Bira was instrumental in developing and setting the national racing colours of Thailand. The base colour for the scheme, a mid to pale powder blue, was adopted by Bira in 1934, and was derived from the evening dress of a young woman that Bira met during his early years in London. Initially the cars were painted solely in blue, but gradually Bira added in some yellow to offset the base colour. He started painting the cars' chassis rails yellow in 1939.
* Bira's 1936 Maserati 8CM, seen in his original all blue livery with Siamese flags on the tail and the White Mouse emblem just ahead of the cockpit
* Bira's second ERA racing car, R5B Remus, in an intermediate livery of blue with yellow wheels only. The UK flag is placed in the position of honour, at the right leading edge of the car's bonnet, to represent its manufacturer
* Bira's third ERA, chassis R12B Hanuman II, in the final Thai racing scheme of pale blue with yellow chassis rails and wheels. The Thai flag is placed in the subsidiary position, at the left leading edge of the car's bonnet, to represent the driver (it is also on the tail)
* Bira's 1954 Maserati A6GCM Inter in a looser interpretation of his racing colours. Post-WWII, and particularly outside Grand Épreuve events, national racing colour schemes were not strictly enforced
* Bira driving his 1954 Maserati 250F in the 1954 French Grand Prix. The adaptations to the official racing scheme needed for post-WWII cars that lacked visible chassis rails are clearly seen: the yellow now forms a broad band around the lower part of the car's bodywork

## Racing record
### Career highlights

| Season | Series | Position | Team | Car |
| 1936 | I Prince Rainier Cup | 1st | B. Bira | ERA R2B |
| 1936 | XII Picardy Grand Prix | 1st | B. Bira | ERA R2B |
| 1936 | IV Albi Grand Prix | 1st | B. Bira | ERA R2B |
| 1937 | I Campbell Trophy | 1st | B. Bira | Maserati 8CM |
| 1937 | London Grand Prix | 1st | B. Bira | ERA R2B |
| 1938 | II Campbell Trophy | 1st | | ERA R2B |
| 1938 | Cork Grand Prix | 2nd | Prince Chula of Siam | Maserati 8CM |
| 1939 | III Campbell Trophy | 2nd | | ERA R2B |
| 1946 | I Ulster Trophy | 1st | | Maserati 4CL |
| 1947 | XVII Grand Prix des Frontières | 1st | | Maserati 4CL |
| 1948 | Stockholm Grand Prix | 1st | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| 1948 | I Zandvoort Grand Prix | 1st | | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 1949 | IV Roussillon Grand Prix | 2nd | Prince Bira | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 1949 | IV San Remo Grand Prix | 2nd | Scuderia Ambrosiana | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 1949 | II Mar del Plata Grand Prix | 2nd | White Motorsports | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 1949 | VI French Grand Prix | 2nd | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 1949 | XI Albi Grand Prix | 2nd | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 1949 | XIX Italian Grand Prix | 3rd | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 1950 | III Goodwood Trophy | 2nd | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 1950 | RAC Woodcote Trophy | 2nd | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 1950 | FIA Formula One World Championship | 8th | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 1951 | III Richmond Trophy | 1st | Ecurie Siam | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 1952 | XII Marseille Grand Prix | 2nd | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| 1954 | XXIV Grand Prix des Frontières | 1st | Prince Bira | Maserati A6GCM |
| 1954 | Rouen Grand Prix | 2nd | Prince Bira | Maserati 250F |
| 1954 | XXIII Pescara Grand Prix | 2nd | Prince Bira | Maserati 250F |
| 1954 | FIA Formula One World Championship | 17th | Prince Bira | Maserati 250F |
| 1955 | III New Zealand Grand Prix | 1st | Prince Bira | Maserati 250F |
| 1955 | VII BRDC International Trophy | 3rd | Prince Bira | Maserati 250F |

### Complete European Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | EDC | Pts |
| 1938 | Squadra Sabauda | Maserati 8CM | Maserati 3.0 L8 | FRA | GER | SUI 14 | ITA | — | — |
| Source: ||||||||||

### Post-World War II Grandes Épreuves results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 1947 | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CL | Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4 s | SUI 8 | | | | |
| 1947 | Ecurie Souris Blanche | ERA B | ERA 1.5 L6 s | | BEL DNS | | | |
| 1947 | Scuderia Milano | Maserati 4CL | Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4 s | | | ITA Ret | FRA | |
| 1948 | Equipe Gordini | Simca Gordini T15 | Simca-Gordini 15C 1.5 L4 s | MON Ret | | | | |
| 1948 | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CL | Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4 s | | SUI Ret | | | |
| 1948 | Prince Chula | ERA B | ERA 1.5 L6 s | | | FRA DNS | | |
| 1948 | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 125 | Ferrari 125 F1 1.5 V12 s | | | | ITA Ret | |
| 1949 | Prince Chula | Maserati 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | GBR Ret | BEL | | | |
| 1949 | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | | | SUI 5 | FRA 2 | ITA 3 |
| Source: |||||||||

### Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | WDC | Pts |
| 1950 | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | GBR Ret | MON 5 | 500 | SUI 4 | BEL | FRA | ITA Ret | | | 8th | 5 |
| 1951 | Ecurie Siam | Maserati 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | SUI | 500 | BEL | FRA DNA | GBR | GER DNA | ITA | | | NC | 0 |
| 1951 | Ecurie Siam | Maserati 4CLT/48 | OSCA 4500 4.5 V12 | | | | | | | | ESP Ret | | NC | 0 |
| 1952 | Equipe Gordini | Gordini T15 | Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 | SUI Ret | 500 | BEL 10 | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1952 | Equipe Gordini | Gordini T16 | Gordini 20 2.0 L6 | | | | FRA Ret | GBR 11 | GER | NED | ITA | | NC | 0 |
| 1953 | Connaught Engineering | Connaught Type A | Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 | ARG | 500 | NED | BEL | FRA Ret | GBR 7 | GER Ret | SUI | | NC | 0 |
| 1953 | Scuderia Milano | Maserati A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | | | | | | | | | ITA 11 | NC | 0 |
| 1954 | Officine Alfieri Maserati | Maserati A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | ARG 7 | 500 | | | | | | | | 17th | 3 |
| 1954 | Prince Bira | Maserati 250F | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | | | BEL 6 | FRA 4 | GBR Ret | GER Ret | SUI | ITA | ESP 9 | 17th | 3 |
| 1955 | Prince Bira | Maserati 250F | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | ARG | MON | 500 | BEL DNA | NED | GBR | ITA | | | NC | 0 |

### Complete non-championship Formula One results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| 1950 | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | PAU | RIC Ret | SRM Ret | PAR | EMP Ret | BAR Ret | JER Ret | ALB Ret | NED 5 | NAT Ret | NOT | ULS | PES Ret | STT | INT | GOO 2 | PEN Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1951 | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s | SYR Ret | PAU | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1951 | Ecurie Siam | Maserati 4CLT/48 | OSCA 4500 4.5 V12 | | | RIC 1 | SRM Ret | BOR 4 | INT 17 | PAR | ULS | SCO | NED | ALB | PES | BAR | GOO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1952 | Equipe Gordini | Gordini T15 | Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 | RIO | SYR | VAL | AUS | RIC | LAV | PAU | IBS | MAR 2 | AST | INT 6 | ELA | NAP | EIF | PAR Ret | AGP NC | FRO | | | LAC 5 | WEC | | SAB 4 | CEA | DMT | COM | NAT | BAU | MOD | CAD | SKA | MAD | AVU | JOE | NEW | RIO |
| 1952 | B Bira | Maserati 4CLT/48 | OSCA 4500 4.5 V12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ULS Ret | MNZ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1952 | Equipe Gordini | Gordini T16 | Gordini 20 2.0 L6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAR 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1953 | Ecurie Siam | Maserati A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | SYR | PAU | LAV | AST | INT 4 | ELA | NAP | ULS | WIN | COR | FRO Ret | SNE | EIF 11 | AGP | COU | WEC | MID | ROU | CRY | AVU Ret | USA | LAC | BRI | MCM | SAB | NEW | CAD | RED | SKA | LON | MOD | MAD | JOE | CUR | | |
| 1954 | Officine Alfieri Maserati | Maserati A6GCM | Maserati Straight-6 | RIO | NZM | BUE 7 | SYR | PAU | LAV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1954 | Prince Bira | Maserati 250F | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | | | | | | | BOR Ret | INT Ret | BAR 6 | CUR | ROM | FRO 1 | COM | BAF | CRY | ROU 2 | CAE 4 | AUG | COM | OUL | RED | PES 2 | JOE | CAD | GBE | GOO | DAI | | | | | | | | |
| 1955 | Prince Bira | Maserati 250F | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | VAL 8 | PAU | GLO | BOR 6 | INT 3 | NAP | ALB | CUR | COR | LON | DAR | RED | DAT | OUT | AVO | SYR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Source: ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

### Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1939 | Raymond Sommer | Raymond Sommer | Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS | 3.0 | 173 | DNF | DNF |
| 1954 | Aston Martin Lagonda | Peter Collins | Aston Martin DB3S Coupé | S 3.0 | 138 | DNF | DNF |
| Source: ||||||||

## Ancestry

Ancestors of Birabongse Bhanudej :