Gordon Bennett Cup (auto racing)

The Gordon Bennett Cup for auto racing was set up by James Gordon Bennett, Jr.. He was the millionaire owner of the New York Herald. The award was first given in 1900 in France. It was a car-racing event between teams from different countries.

History
In 1900, the Automobile Club de France (ACF) was given the trophy (prize). The trophy could be won in a race between automobile clubs from different countries. The trophy was given out every year until 1905. After that, the ACF held the first Grand Prix motor racing event at the Circuit de la Sarthe, in Le Mans.

The British Racing Green was first used in the 1903 Gordon Bennet Cup in Ireland.

The Gordon Bennett Cup auto races included racing drivers from across Europe. There were also drivers from the United States like Alexander Winton, who drove his Winton automobile. 

The rules were that the races were held in the country of the winner of the year before. The races were between national teams. Because of this, the national racing colours had to be set for each country. Great Britain had to choose a different colour to red, white or blue (the colours of the flag) because they had been taken by Italy, Germany and France. They choose shamrock green because the race that year was run in Ireland.According to Leinster Leader, Saturday, 11 April 1903, which also states red as the color for American cars in the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup. This became known as  British racing green.

Gordon Bennett Cup winners
 Year Track   Winner Car Country 1900 Paris to Lyon, France  Fernand Charron Panhard  1901  Paris to Bordeaux, France  Léonce Girardot Panhard  1902 Paris, France to Innsbruck, Austria  Selwyn Edge Napier  1903  Athy, County Kildare, Ireland  Camille Jenatzy Mercedes  1904  Taunus mountains in Germany  Léon Théry Richard-Brasier  1905  Circuit d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France  Léon Théry Richard-Brasier 

References

Category:1900 establishments in France
Category:Auto racing