Birabongse Bhanudej
| Birabongse Bhanudej | |||||
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| Prince of Siam (later Thailand) | |||||
Birabongse in 1944
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| Born |
15 July 1914 Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand |
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| Died | 23 December 1985 (aged 71) Barons Court Station, London, England, United Kingdom |
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| Spouse | Ceril Heycock (1st) (1938–1949) Chelita Howard (1951–1956) Salika Kalantananda (1957) Arunee Chuladakoson (1959–1964) Chuanchom Chaiyananda (1967–1980) Ceril Heycock (2nd) (1983–1985) |
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| Issue | Biradej Bhanubandh Rabibara Bhanubandh Biranubongse Bhanubandh |
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| House | House of Bhanubandh Chakri Dynasty |
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| Father | Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, the Prince Bhanubandhubongse Voradej |
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| Mother | Mom Lek Bhanubandh na Ayudhya (née Yongchaiyudh) |
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| Formula One World Championship career | |||||
| Nationality |
 Thai |
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| Active years | 1950–1954 | ||||
| Teams | Enrico Platé, Gordini, Connaught, Maserati, Scuderia Milano | ||||
| Entries | 19 | ||||
| Championships | 0 | ||||
| Wins | 0 | ||||
| Podiums | 0 | ||||
| Career points | 8 | ||||
| Pole positions | 0 | ||||
| Fastest laps | 0 | ||||
| First entry | 1950 British Grand Prix | ||||
| Last entry | 1954 Spanish Grand Prix | ||||
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |||||
| Participating years | 1939, 1954 | ||||
| Teams |
Raymond Sommer Aston Martin |
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| Best finish | DNF (1939, 1954) | ||||
| Class wins | 0 | ||||
| Full name | |
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| – His Serene Highness Prince (Mom Chao) Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh (15 July 1914 – 8 November 1927) – His Highness Prince Birabongse Bhanudej (8 November 1927 – 23 December 1985) |
Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh or Phra Chao Worawong Ther Phra Ong Chao Birabongse Bhunudej Thai: พระเจ้าวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าพีรพงศ์ภาณุเดช (born 15 July 1914 – 23 December 1985), better known as Prince Bira of Siam (now Thailand) or by his nom de course B. Bira, was the first and remains the only Thai to drive in Formula One. He raced in Formula One and Grand Prix races for the Maserati, Gordini, and Connaught teams, among others. He also was an Olympic sailor in the Melbourne Olympics, 1956 in the Star, Rome Olympics, 1960 in the Star, Tokyo Olympics, 1964 in the Dragon and the Munich Olympics, 1972 in the Tempest. In the 1960 Games he competed against another former Formula One driver, Roberto Mieres, who finished 17th, ahead of the prince at 19th. Birabongse was the only Southeast Asian driver in Formula One until Malaysia's Alex Yoong joined Minardi in 2001. Prince Bira was not only a racing driver, he was also a pilot of gliders and powered aircraft. In 1952 he flew from London to Bangkok in his own twin engine Miles Gemini aircraft.
Prince Birabongse's parents were Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse and his second wife. Birabongse'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 Prince Birabongse was only four years old. Birabongse 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 Prince Bira's legal guardian. On leaving Eton at age 18, in early 1933, Prince Bira moved in with Prince Chula in London, while he decided on his future.
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