Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh, known as Prince Bira, was a remarkable pioneer of motorsport. He was the very first Thai driver to compete in Formula One (F1) and remained the only Southeast Asian in the sport for decades.
Born in the Grand Palace of Bangkok in July 1914, he was a grandson of King Mongkut of Siam. Although he suffered the loss of both parents at a young age, his royal family ensured he received an elite education in England at Eton College and Cambridge. While studying, he discovered a passion for fast cars that soon defined his legacy on the international stage.
Beyond his bravery behind the wheel, he was a man of diverse and remarkable achievements. He sculpted works exhibited at the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts, sailed in four separate Olympic Games, and even flew his own plane solo from London to Bangkok. This adventurous spirit made him a highly admired and charismatic figure both in Thailand and across Europe.
The legendary prince spent his later years in west London, where his extraordinary journey came to an abrupt end. He died of a sudden heart attack at Barons Court Tube station in December 1985, initially remaining anonymous to the police who found him. Eventually, Scotland Yard used a Thai note in his pocket to confirm his identity and organize a traditional Buddhist funeral in Wimbledon.
Early Life of the F1 Prince
After losing both of his parents in childhood, Bira was orphaned by the age of fourteen. He traveled to England for school and eventually met his first wife, Ceril Heycock, at the Byam Shaw School of Art. The couple married in 1938, and Ceril later wrote a memoir about their life together.
Bira's racing career began in earnest in 1935 under the banner of the White Mouse Garage. His cousin, Prince Chula Chakrabongse, acted as the team manager and strategist, preparing the vehicles for their races. Their cars were painted in light blue and yellow, which Bira established as Thailand's national racing colors.
Driving supercharged English Racing Automobiles named "Romulus," "Remus," and "Hanuman", Bira dominated European voiturette racing. He won the Coupe de Prince Rainier in Monte Carlo and three consecutive BRDC Road Racing Gold Stars in the late 1930s. When World War II began, he paused his racing career to serve in the British Home Guard as an air cadet instructor in Cornwall.
In 1950, Prince Bira made history by competing in the inaugural Formula One World Championship season. He started the first-ever race at Silverstone driving a supercharged Maserati 4CLT/48 entered by Enrico Platé. Despite retiring from the opening race due to a fuel issue, he quickly recovered to finish fifth at Monaco and fourth in Switzerland.
Between 1950 and 1954, Bira competed in nineteen World Championship races and scored a total of eight points. He drove for prominent constructors such as Gordini and Connaught, as well as his own privateer team. His best career finishes came in 1950 and 1954, where he twice secured fourth place behind the wheel of a Maserati.
In 1955, Bira retired from professional motorsport after winning the New Zealand Grand Prix in a Maserati 250F. True to his unpredictable nature, he made a brief, one-off racing comeback at the Macau Grand Prix in 1978.
Olympic Sailing and Royal Legacy
After retiring from motorsport, Bira returned to Thailand and shifted his passion toward competitive sailing. He represented Thailand as an Olympic yachtsman in four consecutive Summer Games between 1956 and 1972. During the 1960 Rome Games, he famously competed against fellow F1 driver Roberto Mieres.
Thailand's first FIA-standard racetrack is named the Bira Circuit in honor of his achievements. He also helped bring the Fireball World Sailing Championships to Thailand in 1978 and is commemorated by an annual memorial regatta.
