Birabongse Bhanudej

Birabongse Bhanudej
Birabongse in 1944
Born	(1914-07-15)15 July 1914 Grand Palace, Bangkok, Siam
Died	23 December 1985(1985-12-23) (aged 71) London, England
Spouse	Ceril Heycock (1938–1949) Celia "Chelita" Howard (1951–1956) Salika Kalantananda (1957) Arunee Chuladakoson (1959–1964) Chuanchom Chaiyananda (1967–1980)
Issue	Biradej Bhanubandh Rabibara Bhanubandh Biranubongse Bhanubandh
Names 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)
House	Bhanubandh (Chakri Dynasty)
Father	Prince Bhanubandhubongse Voradej
Mother	Mom Lek Bhanubandh na Ayudhya (née Yongchaiyudh)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Thai
Active years	1950–1954
Teams	Enrico Platé, Gordini, Connaught, Maserati, Scuderia Milano, independent
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
Years	1939, 1954
Teams	Raymond Sommer Aston Martin
Best finish	DNF (1939, 1954)
Class wins	0

Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh (Thai: พีรพงศ์ภาณุเดช; RTGS: Phiraphong Phanudet; 15 July 1914 – 23 December 1985), His Full title: His Highness Prince Birabongse Bhanudej better known as Prince Bira of Siam (now Thailand) or by his nom de course B. Bira, was a member of the Thai royal family, racing driver, sailor, and pilot.^[1]

Birabongse raced in Formula One and Grand Prix races for the Maserati, Gordini, and Connaught teams. He was the only Southeast Asian driver to compete in Formula One until Malaysia's Alex Yoong joined Minardi in 2001, and the only Thai driver to compete in Formula One until Alex Albon made his debut in 2019. Birabongse also competed in sailing events at four Summer Olympic Games, and flew from London to Bangkok in his own twin-engine Miles Gemini aircraft in 1952.