STORY OF THE DAY: Ferrari’s Star Pairing Retires at Le Mans

Jean Behra and Dan Gurney shared the number 14 Ferrari 250 TR59 at the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans. The race was held on 20–21 June, not April 26 as stated in the supplied title. Their works Testa Rossa retired mechanically, joining the other leading Ferraris among the non-finishers as Aston Martin secured first and second overall.

The pairing united Ferrari’s senior new Grand Prix signing with one of America’s fastest emerging drivers, giving the entry considerable promise. The TR59 possessed the speed to contest the lead, but Le Mans again made durability decisive. Its retirement removed one of Ferrari’s strongest crews and contributed to a rare championship defeat during the Testa Rossa era.

The 250 TR59 retained the front-mounted three-litre Colombo V12 but introduced a substantially revised tubular chassis and Fantuzzi bodywork. Ferrari pursued lower weight, improved aerodynamics and better braking, adopting disc brakes during this phase of development. The car was faster and more sophisticated than the 1958 version, although its new components had not yet achieved equivalent endurance reliability.

Behra was French, a fearless Grand Prix and sports-car driver who joined Ferrari after distinguished service with Gordini, Maserati and BRM. Gurney was American and beginning a career that would include Formula One victories, Le Mans success and influential car construction. Their brief Ferrari partnership matters for the calibre of its drivers, even though mechanical failure denied it a lasting result.