Tributes to plane crash race star

Mr Leslie's death was described as a "great loss" to motor sport

Tributes have been paid to a Scottish racing driver who was among five people killed in a private jet crash in Kent.

David Leslie, 54, of Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, died when a plane crashed into a house in Farnborough at about 1430 BST on Sunday.

Nobody on the ground was injured but all five people on board the aircraft lost their lives.

Mr Leslie was a former British touring car racer and had worked as a commentator since retiring in 2003.

Another former racing driver, 63-year-old Richard Lloyd, was also reported to have died in the crash.

The names of the other victims have not been confirmed, although they are believed to include pilot Mike Roberts.

It is the saddest news, both for his family and for the racing community David Brabham Former Formula One driver

Leslie won nine races in a 13-year BTCC career and finished second in the championship behind Frenchman Laurent Aiello in 1999.

He raced for six teams - BMW, Vauxhall, Mazda, Honda, Nissan and Proton - before retiring in 2003.

Sir Jackie Stewart said Mr Leslie's death was "a great loss to Scottish motor sport".

"Scotland has been sorely hit over the last 12 months with the deaths of Colin McRae and now David Leslie," he said.

"David was a highly skilled and talented racing driver who was also an excellent engineer and technical expert within the sport.

"A proud Scot who represented our country internationally in a dignified and stylish fashion."

John Fife from Motorsport News said Mr Leslie was a special figure in motor racing.

All five people on board the plane were killed in the crash

"He was just a lovely, quiet man, not one of these beer-swilling, cigar-smoking types holding forth at bars," he said.

"You would find David in the pits or under the bonnet helping guys set up cars, talking to the youngsters.

"He was just generally steeped in the whole sport and the whole culture of motor racing."

Former Formula One driver David Brabham, who raced with Mr Leslie, described him as a "great guy".

"He was a very good driver and a distinguished gentleman," he said.

"It is the saddest news, both for his family and for the racing community."

Greatly missed

Bernard Buss, of the Scottish Motor Racing Club, of which Mr Leslie was an honorary member, said he had been a highly influential figure.

"He will be greatly missed by all the people involved in motor racing in Scotland," he said.

"He was just one of the greatest lads and he helped so many of the young drivers today, such as David Coulthard."

Investigators were at the scene of the crash on Monday to remove the bodies as they sifted through wreckage to find out what caused the tragedy.

The twin-engined Cessna Citation I plane crashed into a house and burst into flames.