Jean BEHRA and Porsche cooperation

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Some weeks ago I related in the 718RSK forum the death of the French formula 1 pilot Jean Behra at the wheel of a private 718RSK on the Avus race track near Berlin the 1st of August 1959

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a 1 championship

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The above dwgs were published in 1964 in the French Magazine Champion for teen agers
They retrace Jean Behra career from the motocycle time to Porsche with in between collaboration with Gordini, Maserati, BRM, and Ferrari
Herewith the year and names

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Jean Behra major problem was that he never succeed to be number 1 pilot
Driving for Gordini he was behind Trintignant
driving for Maserati he was behind Stirling Moss and then JM Fangio
In 1958 he moved to BRM to becamenumber 1 but the car was not competitive

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In 1959 he managed to join Ferrari, but once again without success
After the Reims Gd Prix he did not finished he had words with Ferrari team manager Tavoni during the after race meal and punch him
That was the end of Jean Behra/Ferrari collaboration
In parallel with his formula 1 carreer Jean Behra drove sport cars as much has he could
Gordini in the 1952 Carrera Panamericana
Maserati at the Buenos Aires 1000 km 1956 and 1957
Ferrari at the 1959 Sebring 12 hours
In 1958 very desapointed by the BRM performances he joined Porsche AG and drove 550 and 18RSK in many events

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Jean Behra major performances for Porsche in 1958 are :
5th in the Buenos Aires 1000 km race on a 550 RS
17th at the Targa Fiorio on a 718RSK
26th at the Le Mans 24 hours race on 718RSK
2nd at the Coupe internationale de Vitesse on a 718 RSK
4 th at the Berlin Gd Prix on a 718RSK
Herewith Jean Behra at the wheel of a 550 A but I don't know at which race
May be Steve knows ?

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Its alaready very late in France and tomorrow I will tell you how Jean Behra had the idea with the help of the Italian engineer Valerio Colotti (who was the conceptor of the Maserati chassis and that Jean Behra met when he drove for Maserati)to develop a Porsche formula 1 race car

[JTR70]

Gerard, A very interesting historical post! Fantastic and educational as always, Thank you! Justin

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To day the end of this story
We are at the end of 1958.
Jean Behra is very disapointed by his season with BRM (many DNF and no victories)
Luckily for him his season as Porsche factory 718 RSK pilot had been better
Remembering that he had been in the past, mainly in 1950/1952 when he was driving for Gordini, he very good mecanic, he decided to built his own 1500 cc formula 2 race car
He bought from Porsche a brand new 718RSK (number 030) and obtain a vcery good price from Ferry Porsche a second hand RSK chassis
It is this chassis that Colotti will use to built the Behra Porsche formula 2 race car pictured above in its bleu de France color

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Starting from these 718RSK Porsche also built a car without wings

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The 3rd of July 1959 the Reims Grand Prix was the last formula 1 race for Jean Behra
He broke the engine of his Ferrari and had to retire from the race
That same day Jean behra 718RSK 030 was enrrered in the formuka 2 race with Phill collibs as driver who finished 9th overall
That same race saw the Porsche formula 2 race car acomplish his first race driven by Jo Bonnier

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