High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh (15 July 1914, Bangkok, Thailand – 23 December 1985, Barons Court Station, London) better known as Prince Bira of Siam (now Thailand), or by his nom de course B. Bira, was a Formula One and Grand Prix motor racing driver who raced for the Maserati, Gordini, and Connaught teams, among others. He was also the only Thai racecar driver to race in Formula One. He also was an Olympic sailor in the Melbourne Olympics, 1956 in the Star, Rome Olympics, 1960 in the Star, Tokio Olympics, 1964 in the Dragon and the Munich Olympics, 1972 in the Tempest. Birabongse Bhanudej was the only Southeast Asian driver in Formula One history until Malaysia`s Alex Yoong joined Minardi in 2001.