She appeared in more than 100 episodes of the motoring program until 1991. She then left to continue her work as a motoring journalist. In a career that included setting up and running the Motor Racing news service, based at Kent’s Brands Hatch motor racing circuit, he was motoring editor of the Observer for 13 years, leaving in 1995. He also worked for Saga Magazine and as a freelance writer. Sue Baker shows John Surtees the controls of a Formula 1 car in 1972. Photo: Ron Stilling/ANL/Shutterstock Tributes paid to her included those from motoring journalists, who praised her for helping them when they first entered the industry. Geraldine Herbert, motoring editor for the Sunday Independent in Ireland, said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sue Baker. She was a wonderful person, a brilliant journalist and a dear friend. A former Top Gear presenter and motoring editor at the Observer, she blazed a trail for women in a man’s world.” The Guild of Motoring Writers, of which Baker was vice president and past president, said they were deeply saddened. “Sue was a trailblazer for women in motoring journalism,” they said. A statement from Baker’s family said: “It is with great sadness that we share the news of Sue’s death. A loving mother to Ian and Hannah, a loving grandmother to Tom & George and a wonderful mother-in-law to Lucy. She passed at home this morning with family around her. “She was a talented and prolific writer, a charismatic TV presenter and a passionate animal lover. She had a life and career that many would envy, but she did it all with such grace that she was admired and respected by all who knew her. We know it meant so much to so many. “Thank you to everyone who supported her over the last few years as she battled MND.”
