Motorsport pays tribute to Leslie

The veteran driver, who enjoyed success in touring cars, sportscars, and single-seaters, was on the way to the south of France where he was due to test Apex Motorsport's Jaguar XKR GT3 today.

The plane crashed shortly after take-off, killing Leslie, team boss Richard Lloyd, and the other three occupants of the plane.

Sir Jackie Stewart led the tributes to his countryman, telling BBC News: "Scotland has been sorely hit over the last 12 months with the deaths of Colin McRae and now David Leslie.

"David was a highly skilled and talented racing driver who was also an excellent engineer and technical expert. He was a proud Scot who represented our country in a dignified and stylish fashion."

Alan Gow, boss of the British Touring Car Championship, which Leslie is best-known for racing in during the super touring era in the late 1990s, added: "It was my privilege to know David. He was a great competitor for many years - always exciting to watch, fiercely competitive and incredibly passionate about his sport.

"The BTCC is a close-knit community and we mourn the tragic loss of both David and Richard. However our sense of loss is nothing compared to those of their families and our thoughts go out to them at this terrible time."

Le Mans 24 Hours winner Guy Smith raced Leslie both as a teammate and a rival.

He told autosport.com: "I'd known David since my Formula Vauxhall Jr days in early 90s when he used to run the team with has dad.

"He did a lot for young drivers, bringing guys like Coulthard, Franchitti and McNish on. He was quite a hero of mine then as a sportscar driver, and as I got to know him better he was very friendly.

"I did the Britcar 24 Hours with him, Anthony Reid, and Harry Handkammer in 2005. He was brilliant and completely open and supportive. He'd been there and done everything, he had nothing to prove. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with him."

Leslie's Britcar teammate Harry Handkammer, who also co-owned Apex with Lloyd, told the Telegraph: "This is as sad as you can get, I'm simply devastated."

Leslie dovetailed his driving career with broadcasting in recent years and was a television commentator for the World Touring Car Championship.

Triple WTCC champion Andy Priaulx said: "I was immensely saddened to hear that two of the gentlemen of our sport had lost their lives in a tragic plane crash. I knew both well and counted them among my friends.

"I grew up watching David race and he was a source of inspiration to me - he proved that good guys can win by being hard but fair racers.

"When he turned his hand to commentating, and was the voice of the WTCC, I was equally impressed with his expertise and I know his comments were always well respected in our paddocks."

Leslie was also active with the Motor Sports Association and helped to coach young drivers on the MSA's British Race Elite initiative.

MSA chief executive Colin Hilton said: "David was a hugely popular figure in almost every formula of motor racing in Britain.

"His long and successful driving career had not yet come to an end, but he was always keen to use his experience to help younger drivers. In fact, just this week he had been involved in selecting the most promising young talent in the UK to join the Race Elite scheme."