Former British Touring Car Championship driver David Leslie has died in a place accident.
Leslie was travelling in a private jet to France from Biggin Hill airfield in Kent, when it crashed into a residential house just after 2:30pm yesterday afternoon.
Legendary team owner Richard Lloyd owner of Richard Lloyd racing who has had previous success in both the BTCC and Sports Cars also died. He was 62.
Pilot Mike Roberts was today being referred to as a hero as he guided the ailing jet past a hospital and a playing field full of children on a hot Sunday afternoon before it crashed.
The co-point and another passenger complete the five men who were killed.
As the Cessna jet was privately there was no "black box" fitted but police said the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which is being assisted by experts from the RAF, the US and Canada, was confident that enough information about the cause of the crash could be gathered from the scene and eye witnesses.
Leslie spent thirteen years racing in the BTCC driving for manufacturers such as Honda and Nissan. He won nine races during his career and finished second in the championship to Nissan teammate Laurent Aiello in 1999.
Leslie was 55 at the time of the crash. The incident comes just six months after another Scottish Motorsport legend, Colin McRae died in a helicopter crash.
Written: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:17:17
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- March 31, 2008Former BTCC racer Leslie dies
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