UK NEWS

TRIBUTES TO TRAGIC SCOTS RACING STAR

The plane clipped the roof of one home before crashing into another and exploding

Tuesday April 1,2008

By Rod Mills, Chief Reporter

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SIR Jackie Stewart yesterday led tributes to Scots motor racing driver David Leslie, who was among five people killed in a private jet crash.

The Formula One legend said Mr Leslie’s death was “a great loss to Scottish motorsport”.

The former British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) driver and close friend Richard Lloyd, 63, were among the five killed when their twin-engined Cessna Citation ploughed into two houses in Farnborough, Kent.

They were travelling to France to oversee tests for a newly launched Jaguar racing team.

Also among the dead was Chris Allarton, a 25-year-old race data analyst who had joined the team just 12 days ago.

Hero pilot Michael Roberts, 63, and co-pilot Michael Chapman, 57, tried desperately to steer the stricken jet away from flats and avoid a group of youngsters in a park.

The eight-seater plane clipped the roof of one home before crashing into another and exploding.

Sir Jackie said: “Scotland has been sorely hit over the last 12 months with the deaths of Colin McRae and now David Leslie. David represented our country in a dignified and stylish fashion.”

Mr Leslie, 54, originally of Annan in Dumfries, was Scottish karting champion five times before winning the Formula Ford title in 1978, and inspired a generation of young drivers including Scots ace David Coulthard. He won nine BTCC races and continued to race until his death.

He leaves a wife, Jane, and sons Graham, 23 and James, 22.