1958 Porsche F2
Loan Courtesy of Miles Collier Collections @ Revs Institute, Naples FL
Built by Jean Behra with assistance from Porsche
Behra finished 3rd at Le Mans with Porsche RSK in 1958
This chassis finished 2nd in Formula 2 race behind Stirling Moss
Jean Behra was a fine racing driver and a champion motorcycle racer winning the French Championship on a number of occasions. He also finished third in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1950. He drove for Gordini, Maserati, BRM and Ferrari in Formula One and podiumed nine times including at Monaco. He built an excellent relationship with Porsche and finished third overall at the Le Mans 24 Hour race with an RSK from that factory. With help from Porsche, he had Neri and Colotti, both prominent designers, build a Formula 2 car, the Behra Porsche and Behra entered the Italian woman race driver, Maria Teresa de Filippis, to drive it at the 1959 Monaco Grand Prix, becoming the first woman to race in Formula 1.
A prestigious Formula 2 Race was planned on the occasion of the Formula One French Grand Prix and Behra entered Hans Hermann in the race. Hermann finished second to Stirling Moss in a Cooper Borgward but beat the Ferrari entries in the race leading to an altercation between Behra and the Ferrari team manager Tavoni which ended in a fistfight. Behra punched Tavoni and was subsequently fired from the F 1 Ferrari team. Sadly, Behra was killed in an accident shortly after this in a Porsche sports car at the Avus track in Berlin.
The Behra Porsche was subsequently purchased by the Camoradi team and driven in Formula One Races In Buenos Aires and Monza eventually joining the Miles Collier Collections at the Revs Institute in Naples Florida.
Specifications:
Engine: 1.5 Liter Flat 4-cylinder, dual overhead cam
Horsepower: 150 @ 8200 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Top Speed: 155 mph
Weight: 1056 lbs