Bruno, Count of Harcourt

Who was Bruno, Count of Harcourt?

Marie Hervé Jean Bruno d'Harcourt, Count of Harcourt was a member of the French nobility and a Grand Prix motor racing driver.

Comte Bruno d'Harcourt was born in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland, the son of Comte Eugène d'Harcourt, French composer and dirigent, and Armande de Pierre de Bernis. On 15 September 1923 he married Isabelle Françoise Helene Marie d'Orléans, Princesse de France, daughter of Jean d'Orléans, Duc de Guise and Isabelle d'Orléans. The couple had four children:

Bernard d'Harcourt, Comte d'Harcourt

Gilone d'Harcourt

Isabelle d'Harcourt

Monique d'Harcourt

Bruno d'Harcourt took up automobile racing where he met the celebrated female driver, Hellé Nice.

Bruno d'Harcourt died at age 30 in Casablanca, Morocco when his Bugatti crashed at the Anfa racetrack while on a practice run for the 1930 Moroccan Grand Prix. The day prior to the race, Harcourt took his Bugatti out for an early morning practice run on the road course and crashed when he ran off the first bend. Severely injured, he died a few days later in hospital.