Racing in Thailand
Bira Circuit (nattanan726 / Shutterstock.com)
No, this article is not about the sometimes uncontrolled, sometimes alcohol-influenced traffic behaviour Thailand or about the kamikaze-like driving of pizza delivery men and motorbike taxis.
I mean racing in cars or motorcycles as a real sport and, to be honest, I didn't think much of that when it came to Thailand.
Still, car and motorcycle sports are quite popular in this country. Close to Pattaya is the Bira circuit, which still attracts 30 to 35.000 people during races. The circuit is the only one in Thailand that is internationally recognized with a 2.41 km long track. The circuit features a descending straight for speed, plus a double apex corner and several chicanes, making it a “technical” circuit suitable for drivers of all levels.
Bira
The Bira complex is also equipped with fully equipped circuits for karting and cross-country (“a track in the dirt”). Enthusiasts, but experienced motorists and motorcyclists can gain experience on all circuits and also receive professional instruction.
The name of the track is a different story. It is named after Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh (better known by his short name Bira), a scion of the Chakri dynasty. Prince Bira was a celebrated racing driver in the time before 1950, when Formula I did not yet exist. There was an unofficial World Championship in England, the so-called British Racing Drivers Club Gold Star. This required winning several events and Prince Bira won that Gold Star in three consecutive years 1936, 1937 and 1938.
Karting (FLUKY FLUKY / Shutterstock.com)
Formula 1
After the Second World War, Prince Bira participated in many competitions in England, America and Europe, beating Fangio, the legendary Argentinian Formula I driver, who would later become world champion 5 times in a row, several times. Prince Bira is the only Thai to have participated in Formula 1 races. Between 1950 and 1954 he competed 19 times in a Grand Prix and twice achieved a fourth place.
At the Bira circuit in Pattaya, a statue reminds of this illustrious Prince from Thailand.
– Reposted message –
About this blogger
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Bert Gringhuis (1945), born and raised in Almelo in the beautiful Twente. Later lived for many years in Amsterdam and Alkmaar, working in export for various companies. I first came to Thailand in 1980 and immediately fell in love with the country. Been back many times since then and moved to Thailand after my (early) retirement as a widower. I have been living there for 22 years now with my somewhat younger Thai lady Poopae.
My first experiences in Thailand as a kind of newsletter sent to family, friends and acquaintances, which later appeared under the name Gringo on Thailandblog. Many, many articles followed those first stories and that has grown into an almost daily hobby.
In the Netherlands still an avid footballer and football referee, but the years are starting to tell and in Thailand still avid, but the pool billiards is really of inferior quality, ha ha!
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Ratthapark Wilairot is a very famous moto 2 rider, he fought in 2010, until the last, for a podium place at the TT of Assen, but eventually fell just outside the prizes with a 4th place.
Not far from the Victory monument, there is a car company with Porsches and Bentleys, that kind of business also seems profitable.
Prince Bira has won the first race at our Zandvoort circuit.
In the well-known Mickey's bar on the circuit there is still an old photo of this event.
I attended a few races on the Bira circuit, and I must say that there were some very exciting races.
Only the former wall on the straight at the start and finish after the left corner seemed very dangerous to me, especially for motorcyclists
Nice addition, Thijs! I would have liked to have included the bicycle that Bira once won the first race in Zandvoort in the story. This was not mentioned on all the websites that I consulted (Bira, F1, Zandvoort), but because of your reaction I started looking again.
I finally found the “revelation” on Wikipedia – Zandvoort Circuit: On August 7, 1948, the first car race, then still called Grand Prix of Zandvoort, took place on the Zandvoort circuit. The race was won by the Thai prince Bira in an old Maserati.
Thanks again!
If I am not mistaken, Tino Kuis also once brought a message about this Prince Bira and his successes in Zandvoort in 1948. Not only the official car race is very popular in Thailand, the illegal race also has its supporters. A few years ago we were in a hotel in Bangsaen where we were disturbed almost every night by an illegal race.
The Hotel owner told us that they regularly called the police, unfortunately with little result.
Small correction, the message was not from Tino Kuis, but from Piet van de Broek.
Yes, I saw that race at Zandvoort when I was a little boy. Lived nearby in Aerdenhout.
For the people who think that there are no Thai people with more money should take a closer look when they are on the road where it is teeming with expensive cars. Or come to the BIRA (Peera) circuit on a Monday because then it is "open day" for motorcyclists and you will see young Thai lads with particularly beautiful and particularly fast bikes (and a helper to park the bicycle). Incidentally, there are often also foreigners on the track.
It is a nice happening there, quite different from what most foreigners here are used to seeing in Thailand.
Personally, I'm not a racer and I don't really understand race tracks, but when I see the construction and maintenance of the track, I have doubts about safety for motorcyclists.
Chang Noi
That is also the case in the Netherlands at Circuit Park Zandvoort, motorcycles are sometimes ridden there, but as a motorcyclist it is better not to make a mistake there. That is why most races are also held at Assen.
About karting with Thai, in itself I see little difference with the falang. Only my girlfriend sometimes comes along, she had the first time red times 2x as slow as me so next time she started on the children's track 🙂
I still have a BMW M3 racing car, have thought about putting it on the boat to Thailand in due course, but I think I have to pay a fortune in import tax, so that won't work.
If you import the BMW M3 as a racing car, there is normally no import tax on it, I have transported race cars and rally cars all over the world and have never paid import tax, but I have ever paid a deposit.
At the moment there is also another young Thai driver who is causing a furore. It concerns Alexander Albon who is currently racing in Formula 2… last year in F3, but again in a higher class. He drives for ART Racing and is quite a talent. Last week he was the fastest in the training session in Dubai just before another up-and-coming Dutch talent Nick de Vries.
Well, I want to go and have a look, but where is it? A location or a map would be appropriate and possibly the route to the circuit?
to http://www.bric.co.th/ and you will find the location with all the trimmings.
Well follow this link and you are in Buriram.
The Bira circuit is not the only FIA recognized circuit in Thailand, the BuriRam circuit is newer, more beautiful and internationally known, there are many motor races and the TCR, and GT races are world class.
Been there several times. Every now and then there are lads of barely 15 years old racing with Ferraris……
The circuit itself is not too spectacular but it is still like with us in the 60s .. you can go wherever you want (dangerous) ... .. Walk around in the pits ...... and the entrance is usually not much more than 100 Baht.
The Prince Bira Circuit is not the only int.recognized circuit, also in BuriRam, the Chiang circuit is FIA recognized
Well just a quick comment. Did those present here know that a Dutchman has been at the cradle of road racing as far back as the 80s and, as far as I know, has even been Thai and Asian champion?
Name Theo Louwes
http://www.classic-motorrad.de/v25/pressemeldungen/678-2016-theo-louwes
Oh man I guess I'm just 80 now but driving (now yes driving??) still.
https://www.motoplus.nl/magazine/uitgaven/artikel/interview-theo-louwes/
Go to http://www.bric.co.th/ and you see all the data about the Buriram circuit, today there is the International TRC races.
Chang circuit in Buriram is FIA recognized, beautiful, fast circuit where beautiful races are held