Car Racing at the Bira Circuit Pattaya
April 29, 2022Car Racing at the Amazing Bira Racing Circuit Pattaya
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PRINCE BIRA’S HISTORY
Inspired by the legendary Prince Bira
Car Racing. In the late 1900s, during the reign of King Rama VII, Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh (Prince Bira) and Prince Chula Chakrabongse (Prince Chula) of Siam developed a passion for racing while living abroad in England. In 1935 they founded a racing team called White Mouse Siam, which Price Bira raced for under the nickname B.Bira. He joined the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) and raced in a blue Riley Imp race car.
Prince Bira started racing more after he turned 21 years old. He became well-known internationally, especially in Europe where he competed. He raced a series of English Racing Automobiles (ERA) cars painted in striking blue and yellow livery that had fanciful nicknames from mythology such as “Romulus, Remus and Hanuman”. His signature color is now known as Bira Blue. He favored racing the ERA Romulus while abroad, and ERA Remus while in England. His first triumph was at the Coupe de Prince Rainier in Monaco on 11 April 1936.
Besides the two ERAs, he also owned a 1936 Series Maserati 8CM decorated with his team mascot, the White Mouse, and a Siamese Flag. At the time his best performances were 5th Place in Donnington and 3rd Place in Brooklands.
Car Racing. King George the V bestowed upon Prince Bira the high honor of “BRDC Road Racing Gold Star” in a row for three years (1936-1938). He also received the honor of being named in the British Racing Association Hall of Fame.
Car Racing. After World War II ended, Price Bira returned to racing in 1948 at 34 years old. He switched to racing in a Maserati 4CLT/48 and competed in the British Grand Prix when the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) first sanctioned Formula One. This makes him the first and the only Thai citizen to have participated in a Formula One race. He kept racing until 1954 and had many outstanding results and the best one was, placing 4th in the 1954 French Grand Prix, where he raced alongside other world legendary racers such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Giuseppe Farina.
