Gordon Bennett Cup (auto racing) facts for kids

The Gordon Bennett Cup for auto racing was a special car race. It was started by James Gordon Bennett Jr., who was a very rich owner of the New York Herald newspaper. The first race happened in 1900 in France. It was a unique event because it was a car race between teams from different countries.

History of the Race

In 1900, the Automobile Club de France (ACF), which is France's main car club, was given the special trophy, or prize. This trophy could be won in a race between car clubs from different countries. The race was held every year until 1905. After that, the ACF started a new, even bigger car racing event called the Grand Prix motor racing. This first Grand Prix was held at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.

A cool fact about the Gordon Bennett Cup is that the famous British Racing Green color was first used in the 1903 race. This race took place in Ireland.

The Gordon Bennett Cup races brought together racing drivers from all over Europe. Drivers from the United States also joined, like Alexander Winton, who drove his own Winton automobile.

The rules for the race were interesting. The country that won the race one year would host the race the next year. Also, the races were between national teams. Because of this, special racing colors had to be chosen for each country. Great Britain had to pick a different color than red, white, or blue. These colors were already taken by Italy, Germany, and France. So, Great Britain chose a shamrock green color because the 1903 race was held in Ireland. This green color then became known as the famous British racing green.

Gordon Bennett Cup Winners

Here are the teams and drivers who won the Gordon Bennett Cup:

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

Images for kids

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  Magazine spread showing three Gordon Bennett Cup Teams in 1903: German Mercedes (top), USA Wintons and Peerless (middle) and British Napiers (bottom)

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  English team -on Napier- before 1903 Gordon Bennett Trophy (left to right: J.W. Stocks, Ch. Jarrott and S.F. Edge).

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  Circuit map for the 1903 Gordon Bennett Trophy

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  Gordon Bennett course 1905 – France

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  Jenatzy, the winner in 1903

See also

In Spanish: Copa Gordon Bennett (automovilismo) para niños