Jean Behra

Jean Behra was a French driver who competed in the World Championship from 1952 to 1959, making fifty-six starts across eight consecutive seasons. Born in 1921, he debuted with the French Gordini team at around 31 years of age and quickly established himself, taking six points and eleventh in the standings in his first season.

After three years with Gordini, Behra moved to Maserati in 1955 and spent four seasons with the Italian marque. The 1956 campaign was the peak of his career: twenty-two points and fourth place in the Drivers' Championship, his best final position. He remained a consistent scorer with Maserati, adding points in 1957 and 1958.

For 1959 he joined Ferrari, scoring two further points in what proved to be his final championship season. In all he drove for four teams — Gordini, Maserati, BRM and Ferrari — over the course of his career.

Behra never won a Grand Prix, but his fifty-one career points and nine podium finishes mark him as one of the leading French drivers of the 1950s, a front-running presence through most of the decade despite the win column remaining empty.