Hi, I’m James Pemberton, though most readers know me as Jamie.
For over 17 years, I’ve worked as a sports journalist. During that time, I’ve covered nearly every major sporting event — from the Premier League and Formula 1 to Royal Ascot horse racing, the NFL, and the Olympic Games.
I graduated from the University of Oxford (St Peter’s College), where I studied History. I began my career at the Manchester Evening News, before moving on to roles at The Daily Telegraph, BBC Sport, The Athletic, The Times, and ESPN. I’ve been twice nominated for the Sports Journalists’ Association Awards and published my book Beyond the Scoreline in 2023.
Alongside the reporting, I’ve always had a parallel obsession with the betting markets. Covering F1 paddocks and racing festivals like Ascot gave me a front-row seat to how odds move, where the value hides, and why the public money so often gets it wrong. Over the years I built a quiet habit of tracking lines, comparing bookmakers, and finding the angles that don’t make the back page. That side of my work never fitted neatly into a newspaper brief — until now.
In 2026, after nearly two decades working for major media outlets, I decided to step away and launch my own independent project — 2litrehotrod.com. I grew tired of adjusting to editorial policies, cutting stories to fit word limits, and avoiding uncomfortable topics. Here, I write what I believe matters — without censorship, clickbait, or deadlines dictating the depth.
On this blog, you’ll find in-depth analysis, honest opinions, long-form features, and the stories that often stay behind the scenes in mainstream media. I write about football, Formula 1, horse racing, American sports, and how sport reflects our society.
When I’m not at my laptop, I’m a regular family man from Cheshire. I’m married to Emily, and we have two children — Olivia and Harry. I’m still a lifelong Manchester United supporter (and occasionally suffer for it), enjoy a good ride in the countryside, and try to get to proper race meetings at least once a year.
If you value honest, thoughtful sports journalism without the noise — welcome. I’m glad you’re here at 2litrehotrod.com.
Jamie Pemberton
Sports Journalist & Founder of 2litrehotrod.com