On Thursday, 2 July 1903 the 'Gordon Bennett Cup' was the first international motor race to be held in Ireland, an honorific to 'Selwyn Francis Edge' who had won the 1902 'Gordon Bennett Cup' in the Paris-Innsbruck race driving a British 'Napier'.
The race started at the Ballyshannon cross-roads (53.0853°N 6.82°W) near Calverstown on the contemporary N78 heading north. The route consisted of two loops in a figure of eight configuration, the first a 52 mi (84 km) north loop including Kilcullen, The Curragh, Kildare, Monasterevin, Ballydavis, Stradbally, Athy, Fontstown and back to Calverstown. This was followed by a 40 mi (64 km) south loop up to Kilcullen again then heading south through Ballitore, Castledermot, Carlow, north back up to Athy then east back to Calverstown.
The 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup, formally titled the 'IV Coupe Internationale', was a motor race held on 2 July 1903, on the Athy Circuit consisting of closed roads in Ireland. The race consisted of seven laps - alternating for six laps between the longer circuit to the North then a shorter circuit to the South before a final lap on the longer circuit to make the total distance 527 km (327.5 miles). This would make the road-circuit a large figure of eight in configuration.
Unfortunately only black and white films existed in 1903 so it is impossible to see the original colours of the cars taking part in this race. It is documented that most nations adopted one colour for their racing cars, usually based on one of the colours in their respective flag colours.
- The French 'Panard's and 'Mors' raced in blue.
- The American 'Winton's and 'Peerless' raced in red.
- The German 'Mercedes' however raced in white.
- The British 'Napier's could not race in Red, White or Blue, so they raced under a new colour of Shamrock Green, This was in reference to the home race being held in Ireland (in 1903 Ireland was part of the British Isles). Since then, British cars continued to race in green and later on, that colour was regarded as British Racing Green'.