James Gordon Bennett Junior

James Gordon Bennett Jr. was the son of an American press magnate who founded the New York Herald.  Keen sailor, he won the first trans-oceanic Yacht Race in 1866 before taking over from his father and founding the famous International Herald Tribune.

He settled in Paris from where he conducted his business. His enthusiasm for sports led him to finance various fashionable and popular events that enabled his newspapers to report from behind the scenes and to obtain exclusive interviews with the various participants.

In addition to backing various adventurous expeditions, he founded the Gordon Bennett Cup for international yachting and in 1900, the Gordon Bennett Cup for automobile racing,which was the precursor for the automobile Grand Prix that we know today.  In 1906, he provided the capital and a trophy for the first air race known as the Gordon Bennett Cup, which was launched from the Tuileries Gardens with 16 balloons taking part.

As was the case for the automobile races, the event in the following year is hosted by the winner of the previous year. This is the reason that France in Gap-Tallard hosts the 2011 edition.