Birabongse Bhanudej
Prince Bira, Prince actually Birabongse Bhanutej Bhanubhandhu ( born July 15, 1914 in Bangkok, † 23 December 1985, London), was a Thai automobile racer and yachtsman.
Life
Prince Bira was the son of Prince Bhanurangsri Sawangvongse, a son of King Mongkut and younger brother of King Chulalongkorn, and Mom Lek Bhanubhandhu na Ayudhya. His official title in Thai was พระ วร วงศ์ เธอ พระองค์เจ้า พีร พงศ์ ภาณุ เดช (pronounced [ p ʰ rá Wora -won -t ʰ ə p ʰ rá ʡong - ʤâo p ʰ ina -p ʰ on p ʰ a ː - nú -DET ] ), the short form was พระองค์ พี ระ - " Phra - ong Phira, "meaning" Prince Bira ". By the age of 13, he was educated in Thailand. In 1927 he came to further education to Britain, where he first studied at Eton College and later at the University of Cambridge.
In 1935, he started in the team of his cousin Prince Chula Chakrabongse with the racing. ERA - car he denied numerous races in the Voiturette class, the previous series of the formula 2 Among other things, he won the Voiturette -GP Monaco 1936. After the Second World War he joined with carriage of OSCA, Simca - Gordini and Connaught in several Grand Prix on. His greatest successes he achieved in a private Maserati, who was conspicuously painted blue and yellow. His best results in Formula 1 race that counted for the World Cup, fourth place at the Grand Prix of Switzerland in 1950 and the Grand Prix of France were in 1954. 1955, Prince Bira retired from racing.
A new athletic field of activity he found while sailing. Four times he represented his country at this Olympics. In 1956, he was twelfth, four years later Nineteenth class star. 1964 was also his wife Arunee the crew of the Dragon, who finished in 22nd and thus penultimate. 1972 Prince Bira finally sailed again in the Star. The end result is a 21 rank was achieved.
He died after a heart attack.