‘Jeannot’ began his career on two wheels, but went on to become a French hero as a Grand Prix driver
JEAN BEHRA, or “Jeannot” as he was known throughout his career, was France’s top driver during the 1950s. Born in Nice in 1921, like so many other drivers of that era, he served his apprenticeship on two wheels, first as a cycling champion and then as a French motorcycling champion for three successive years. He yearned to race cars, however, and made his debut in a four- litre Talbot in the 1949 Coupe du Salon at Montlhéry, where he finished a creditable sixth.
He then showed his versatility by finishing third overall and winning his class in the 1950 Monte Carlo Rally, driving a Simca 1,100cc. This led to a contract to drive a Simca at Le Mans, shared with another motorcyclist, Roger Loyer, but sadly, they retired in the race. A month later, driving a borrowed 1.5-litre Maserati, he won his class at the Mont Ventoux hill-climb.
This led to an offer to join the French team of Amédée Gordini. Third in his first Formula 2 race, it became clear that Gordini had signed an exceptional talent, and Behra continued with the team until 1954. The highlight of his time was the day in 1952 when he beat the Ferraris of Farina, Ascari and Villoresi to win the French Grand Prix at Reims.
Drives like that and his bravery endeared him to the French people. His bravery was to be tested in 1953 at Pau, when he crashed heavily, suffering spinal and arm injuries. Despite this he was soon back in the fray, upholding French honour against the Italian teams then dominating Grand Prix racing.
In 1955 he joined the Maserati team, and the greater reliability of the Italian cars was soon reflected in a string of successes.
A nasty accident in Ireland at the Dundrod TT race cost him an ear, which was replaced with a plastic substitute. Although he continued to have success with Maserati, he also found time to give BRM its first Grand Prix success by winning at Caen.
Thus when Maserati withdrew from racing at the start of 1958, Jean signed to drive a GP BRM, and for Porsche in sports-car racing. The BRM turned out to be disastrously unreliable, and it was no surprise when Jean switched to Ferrari for 1959, opening his season with victory in the Aintree 200.
However, Behra became frustrated with the Ferrari management, and matters came to a head when he ended up punching team manager Tavoni at the French Grand Prix. Behra found himself “released” from his Ferrari contract.
Two weeks later, he drove a privately entered Porsche RSK to second place in the Auvergne Two Hour race, and a week later was entered in the same car at Avus in the 1959 Berlin Sports Car Grand Prix.
Avus was an extraordinary venue for a race, consisting of two long flat straights linked at either end by two lengthy U-turns, which were banked. The north curve was brick-paved and steeply banked and lined with a parapet. While chasing Von Trips for the lead, Behra clipped the parapet and spun over the top of the banking, being flung out of the car and dying instantly.
It would not be until the arrival of Alain Prost many years later that a French driver would be as successful in Grand Prix.
