About Jean Behra
Jean Marie Behra (16 February 1921 – 1 August 1959) was a French racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1952 to 1959. Behra contested 54 Formula One Grands Prix across eight seasons for Gordini, Maserati, BRM, Ferrari, and Behra-Porsche. He achieved nine podiums and one fastest lap, finishing fourth in the 1956 World Drivers' Championships with Maserati. == Appearance and personality == Behra was small in stature, stocky, and weighed 178 pounds. Behra had big shoulders and was scarred from 12 crashes. In 1955 he had an ear torn off from a collision. He sometimes drove magnificently, while at other times he drove with a lack of enthusiasm. Behra was known for being hard-charging and temperamental, which led to confrontations with Ferrari team managers after being accused of overstressing engines at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Reims Grand Prix race in 1959. He was dismissed from the Ferrari team after assaulting a team manager, shortly before his death. == Career synopsis == Behra raced motorcycles for Moto Guzzi prior to changing to sports cars and Grand Prix racing.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.