Behra-Porsche
| Base | France |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Jean Behra |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Engines | Porsche 547/6 1.5l F4 |
| Entrants | Jean Behra Camoradi International |
| First entry | 1959 Monaco Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1960 Italian Grand Prix |
| Races entered | 4 (2 starts) |
| Race victories | 0 |
| Constructors' Championships | 0 |
| Drivers' Championships |
0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
Behra-Porsche was a Formula One constructor who entered four World Championship Grand Prix across the 1959 and 1960 seasons. The constructor started - and finished - two races, both in the 1960 season, but scored no championship points in the process.
Jean Behra was a French racing driver, who by the end of the 1950s was a stalwart of the Formula One paddock. He had achieved success earlier in the decade with Maserati team, but was contracted to Ferrari for the 1959 season. Despite his obligations to Ferrari, Behra commissioned Porsche to build a Formula 2 single-seater car, taking componentry from the Porsche 718 'RSK'. The chassis for the car had already been designed by former Maserati engineer Valerio Colotti, who subsequently adapted it so that components from the 718 RSK could be used. The vehicle was named the 'Behra-Porsche' and painted in the Bleu de France colour of the Frenchman's homeland.
The car made an initial outing at the 1959 Monaco Grand Prix, with Behra's good friend Maria Teresa de Filippis at the wheel. de Filippis was unable to qualify, however, and the car did not start the race.
After the French Grand Prix, Behra was dismissed from the Ferrari team following an altercation with the team manager. This meant, however, that Behra was able to race the Behra-Porsche himself in the upcoming German Grand Prix.
The German Grand Prix was the only one ever to be held at the AVUS circuit in Berlin. Not only had Behra entered the Behra-Porsche into the Grand Prix, he had also entered his RSK sportscar into a support race. It was in this race that Behra crashed fatally, spinning out over the top of the infamous AVUS banking and being thrown from his vehicle. Behra hit a flagpole and fell to the ground, fracturing his skull and breaking many ribs. It was concluded by a doctor on the scene that he has died on impact.
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