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Tributes paid to racing duo

Victim: Sportscar boss Richard Lloyd. Picture courtesy BTCC
Victim: Sportscar boss Richard Lloyd. Picture courtesy BTCC
Scene of carnage: An air crash investigator surveys the destruction. Picture: Grant Falvey
Scene of carnage: An air crash investigator surveys the destruction. Picture: Grant Falvey
Victim: Ex-British Touring Car driver David Leslie. Picture courtesy BTCC
Victim: Ex-British Touring Car driver David Leslie. Picture courtesy BTCC

Tributes have been paid to the two famous names from motor racing killed in the Farnborough air tragedy.

Former British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) driver David Leslie and sportscar boss Richard Lloyd lost their lives along with three others when the executive jet they were in crashed into a Kent housing estate after taking off from Biggin Hill Airport on Sunday afternoon.

Police finished removing the five bodies from the wreckage in Romsey Close on Monday night.

~ Grim aftermath - victims' bodies recovered >>>

Mr Leslie, 54, won nine BTCC races during spells at Vauxhall, Honda and Nissan, and finished runner-up in 1999 championship.

He also commentated for the television channel Eurosport, and raced competitively until his death, taking an unexpected Britcar endurance win in appalling conditions at Silverstone only last weekend.

Mr Lloyd, 63, worked with some of the sport's most famous drivers, including Sir Stirling Moss, Damon Hill and Keke Rosberg.

Jonathan Palmer, the chief executive of MotorSport Vision – the company which owns the Brands Hatch circuit – said in an emotional statement: "I had known Richard closely for over 25 years and he was one of the most important people in the development of my racing career and successes as a racing driver.

"His passion for motor racing was remarkable, but more than that he never stopped working to realise the dreams of success. His death is such a cruel blow."

Colin Hilton, chief executive of the Motor Sports Association said: "They were lovely, gentle people and the entire motor sport community will be shocked and saddened by this tragic news.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the five families at this time."

BTCC series director Alan Gow said: "It was my privilege to know both David and Richard.

"David of course was a great competitor within the BTCC for many years - always exciting to watch, fiercely competitive and incredibly passionate about his sport.

"Richard I never knew as a driver, but as the team owner of Audi Sport UK – and he was a thoroughly likeable person, of real integrity and determination."

~ 'Like a bomb going off' - eyewitness accounts and more pictures >>>

David Bartrum, team manager of Wrotham-based touring car outfit Motorbase, said he was also saddened to hear of the accident.

He said: "David was very well known to most of the teams in the paddock and he has been a big part of British motor sport and touring cars for a very long time.

"The same goes for Richard. He was a big part of sportscar racing, and they'll both be very sadly missed."

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