Sue Jawhard
 Sue Jawhard, pictured during a TV interview | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sue Jawhard |
| Born | 21 Sep 1947 |
| Died | 11 Apr 2021 |
| Nationality | Template:GBR British |
Georgiana Susan Tremayne (née Jawhard, known professionally as "Sue Jawhard") (born 21st September 1949 in Clauston, Midsomer) was a British motorsports journalist and occasional racing driver best known for her exposé of the Dywa Grand Prix Series and her detailed reporting on the B&S Fabrications Formula One Team.
Journalistic Career
B&S Fabrications coverage
During the 1970s, Jawhard worked as an sports correspondent for the Luton Herald and Post and local radio. Her breakout story was an in-depth interview with Bob Sparshott of B&S Fabrications in which the team boss explained his intention to "look forward, not back"[1] before breaking further details about the team's approach to the 1979 season.[2] Despite the continued complaints of Sparshott, Jawhard continued to cover the Luton-based squad extensively for years afterwards.[3][4] On one occasion, Jawhard accidentally incriminated herself in criminal matters while reporting on a story, but did not ultimately face charges.[5]
Undercover Dywa reporting
During the 1980 season, Sue Jawhard chose to pursue inside information in order to write a detailed exposé of the Dywa Grand Prix Series. To her surprise, she was able to secure a drive with the struggling HEART DISEASE team, replacing Iain MacCampbell. She performed creditably, qualifying on the front half of the grid and was running in the point when she was forced to retire from the race due to a water leak. In the week that followed, she penned her article which was published in the Evening News. (Will be referenced here when I've written it.)
Dywa Grand Prix Series racing results
Jawhard raced under the pseudonym "Jill Scott".
| Season | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pts | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 |  HEART DISEASE
|
Dywa-Renzo DFV | PER |
IMO |
SPA |
HAL Ret |
SAL |
MUG |
SYR |
SAN |
BRA |
ROE |
MND |
KIR |
MAN |
MNZ |
0 | - |
By 1981, Jawhard's profile had increased such that she was commissioned by Motor Sport Magazine to pen their official season preview.[6] Although her 1981 edition faced criticism for its inaccuracies and speculation, Jawhard continued to be trusted with MSM's season previews for years afterwards.[7]
"Murderer McEwan"
By 1991, Jawhard was Grand Prix Editor for AutoMobile News. During a 1991 Formula 3000 race, Ukyo Katayama was involved in a horror crash with Dome driver Neil McEwan. Jawhard broke the story that Katayama had lost his life in the incident, and also penned the nickname "Murderer McEwan."[8] However, in the immediate aftermath of the story's publication, BBC News reported that Katayama was in fact alive (he would later make a full recovery). [9] Dome condemned Jawhard's "Murderer McEwan" nickname,[10] and ultimately McEwan would sue Jawhard for defamation.
McEwan won the case, and Jawhard would never find work in the Grand Prix paddock again. However, the disgraced former journalist would eventually marry her solicitor Henry Tremayne.
Later Life and Death
With her career in journalism a thing of the past, Tremayne and Jawhard would relocate to Benidorm, only returning to the United Kingdom nearly 30 years later when Jawhard's health started to decline. Following heart surgery, Jawhard remained in Midsomer, attending regular meetings of The Stitcher Society. In shocking circumstances, Jawhard was strangled to death in April 2021[11] - though a year later, this was thrown into question when a letter from "Sue, 74, Benidorm" appeared in the Daily Mail.[12]
- ↑ "Don't count us out yet" - Sparshott
- ↑ The Formula One car Luton gave us, Luton Herald and Post (1979)
- ↑ Local Leaders: Bob Sparshott, Luton Herald and Post (1979)
- ↑ B&S "the new home of British talent" - Sparshott Luton Herald and Post (1980)
- ↑ Huge Changes At Spartec Headquarters Motor Sport Magazine (1980)
- ↑ Sue Jawhard's 1981 Season Preview, Motor Sport Magazine (1981)
- ↑ Sue Jawhard's 1982 Season Preview, Motor Sport Magazine (1982)
- ↑ Katayama dead in tragic crash, AutoMobile News (1991)
- ↑ BBC News report (1991)
- ↑ Statement from Dome Co. Ltd (1991)
- ↑ The Stitcher Society, Midsomer Murders (2021)
- ↑ Letters to the Editor, Daily Mail (Tue 12 Apr 2022)