In 1899 Gordon Bennett offered the Automobile Club de France a trophy to be raced for annually by the automobile clubs of the various countries. The trophy was awarded annually until 1905, after which the ACF held the first Grand Prix motor racing event. Each  country could send up to three cars. The cars themselves were to weigh at least 400 kg (882 lb) empty, and had to be built entirely in the country under whose colours they ran. The 1902 Gordon Bennett Cup was run over a distance of 565 km from Paris to Innsbruck in conjunction with the Paris-Vienna motor car race. The race started in Paris on 26 June. Competing were 30 heavy cars, 48 light cars, six voiturettes, three motorcycles, and three motorcyclettes. Each nation was allowed to nominate up to three cars to compete for the Gordon Bennett Cup, but only six entries were received, three French and three British. The Automobile Club of Great Britain announced that the Napier cars, #160 driven by Mr White, and #45 driven by S.F. Edge would represent the club.

The Times announced on June 30th 1902 that Mr Edge had won the Gordon Bennett Cup.