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The sad news about David Leslie (below) and Richard Lloyd reached me in Henley, late on Sunday afternoon.
It is always a shock when racing drivers lose their lives doing something other than pushing a car to the limits on track. They have chosen that as a job and so have, in a way, accepted the dangers of it. It is sad anytime someone loses their life, but for someone like Leslie to survive years of close racing in saloon and touring cars it seems so unjust that he should pass away like he did.
Leslie was on his way to the south of France to drive a Motorsport Jaguar XKR in an FIA GT3 equalisation test at Nogaro circuit tomorrow and Richard Lloyd (below), the sports car team boss, was also on the plane; having started Richard Lloyd Racing in the 80’s, he went on to take the Bentley team to overall victory at Le Mans in 2003.
From what we have been told the pilot, having taken off from Biggin Hill Airfield in Kent, reported severe engine vibration and was forced to make an emergency landing. The Cessna Citation 501 private jet went down in a housing estate and luckily the house, which it crashed into, was empty – the family having gone on holiday. Sadly all 5 people on the plane lost their lives.
A sad day for motor sport indeed.
John Williams, March 31st, 2008 at 2:30 pm
You are right about racing drivers passing away off-track – a truly sad day for motor sport; my sympathies go to families and friends.
John
Rich Ambroson, March 31st, 2008 at 8:34 pm
All I’ve read about these poor fellows is what wonderful folks they were. A terribly sad loss, and my sympathies and condolences to family, friends, and fans of both.
George Murphy, April 1st, 2008 at 8:17 am
Yes, how awful it is when experienced racing people, who have survived a dangerous sport for so many years, die in such benign circumstances. A business flight to France for a test session in a racing car should have been just another hum-drum flight for these men. I can’t help but be reminded of Graham Hill and his fatal crash back in November 1975. Such a tragedy.
And by all accounts, David Leslie and Richard Lloyd were excellent racing people who will be badly missed by the British motor racing community. We should also remember the other people who died in the crash. My sincere condolences to their friends and families.
John Hugenholtz, April 1st, 2008 at 12:43 pm
What a sad day, loosing two great Motorsports enthousiasts this way. Both David and Richard were lovely racing friends who will be remembered for their many successes. My sympathies and condolences to their family and friends. RIP
neil matthews, April 2nd, 2008 at 9:02 am
a very sad thing but in the interests of accurate journalism it looked rather like a normal housing estate rather than council; and why point out what type of estate it crashed into anyway…
Ed Foster, April 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 am
Neil
Duly noted… and changed.
EF
Nick Jones, April 5th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Memories of Graham Hill’s tragic death came flooding back when I heard the news, and from, if I remember correctly, the very same airfield?. A truly sad loss, and my condolances to family, colleagues & friends.