F1 News - Grandprix.com. Encyclopaedia Drivers. Encyclopedia Name: Jean Behra Nationality: France Date of birth: February 16, 1921 - Nice Date of death: August 1, 1959 - Berlin, Germany Jean Behra, Argentine GP 1956 © The Cahier Archive Born in 1921 Behra took up motorcycle racing in 1938 but was robbed of his best racing years by the war. In the post-war era he raced for Moto Guzzi and won four French national titles between 1948 and 1951.
In 1949 while at Mont Ventoux for a motorcycle race he tried his hand at car racing at the wheel of a Maserati and found that he liked it. This was followed by a race at Montlhery in a Talbot, a run on the Monte Carlo Rally in 1950 and then at Le Mans and in the Bol d'Or. Behra stayed with Gordini for two more seasons of frustration but then finally signed for Maserati for 1955. In sports car racing he enjoyed some success notably winning the Sebring 12 Hours with Fangio in 1957. Story of Elly and Berndt Rosemeyer. Drivers 1934-1950. Even with lots of work still do be done this list have reached a state where it must be considered one of the most complete and accurate ever assembled on the subject. This has only been possible due to the tremendous help from people all over the world, each of them experts of their local drivers and events.
Short biographies of drivers with BLUE background, will come up in due time. If you have any information about any driver with GREEN background, please contact me! Abad - SEE: Léoz-Abad Agabeg - SEE: Fane Aimini - SEE: Aymini Alsed - SEE: Carlsson Araujo - SEE: Almeida Araujo Avanzo - SEE: D'Avanzo Back to Contents. GP Drivers since 1950.