Drivers pay homage to Lloyd

The 63-year-old ran successful teams in sportscars and touring cars over four decades, finishing second in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1985 as a driver, and then winning the great race when his team masterminded Bentley's victory in 2003.

He was on the way to the south of France to oversee testing of his Apex Motorsport Jaguar XKR GT3 at Nogaro today.

The plane crashed shortly after take-off, killing Lloyd, development driver David Leslie, and the other three occupants of the plane.

Sir Stirling Moss, who drove for Lloyd in touring cars after his own Formula One career had finished, led the tributes today.

"I knew his capabilities both as a driver and as an engineer - he was very skilled in both," Moss told Reuters. "It's an absolute tragedy, he was very well respected. We have lost a guy who was a very good driver, a nice person and a very good engineer."

Guy Smith was one of the drivers that won Le Mans with Lloyd and Bentley in 2003. He told autosport.com: "It's just unbelievable. Richard was a great friend and was massively influential on my career.

"I'd done some sportscar racing in America in 2000 and only had an okay year because the car kept breaking. But I started speaking with Richard about the Bentley project and he believed in me and was a big supporter of mine.

"He was instrumental in pushing my name forward to Bentley, and he was a huge part of that programme. Without his support and encouragement it would never have happened and I owe a debt to his support.

"It's a massive loss to motorsport to lose two key players in sportscars and touring cars, but right now your thoughts can only be with their families."

British Racing Drivers' Club president Damon Hill added: "It was my great pleasure and privilege to have known both Richard and David. They were both lovely guys, you wouldn't find anyone with anything bad to say about them.

"On behalf of all BRDC Members, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of David and Richard at this very sad time. Both men were much loved members of our club.

"On a personal note, Richard generously gave me an opportunity to drive one of his cars at Le Mans in 1989 at a time when I had no money and no prospects. I am entirely grateful to him for that.

"Both men were a credit to motorsport but above all they were thoroughly decent men who loved the sport. They will be much missed."

Motorsport Vision boss Jonathan Palmer was a close friend of Lloyd's and they finished second at Le Mans together in 1985.

"I'm desperately saddened to learn that my friend Richard Lloyd lost his life," said Palmer. "I had known him 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.

"He was a true enthusiast and often provided prestigious opportunities for young drivers to shine.

"I first met Richard in 1981 when I lead the British Formula 3 Championship. He asked me if I'd like to drive with him in an Audi 90 in the Silverstone Tourist Trophy touring car race. I was thrilled to accept, and I think we won the class.

"The relationship developed and in 1982, Richard's team GTi Engineering, graduated to a Porsche 924GTR which we drove together at Spa and Daytona, amongst other events.

"His obsession with professionalism and quality was rewarded when he convinced Canon to increase their sponsorship and GTi Engineering became one of the first, very proud owners of a customer Porsche 956.

"We were all so excited to be entering the top echelon of world sportscar racing with the car of the moment. None of us could quite believe it, they were amazing days.

"Our biggest and sweetest success was winning the Brands Hatch 1000km World Endurance race in 1984. Richard threw a major party that evening at Brands Hatch. He was good at that too!

"In 1985 the Le Mans driver line up was me, James Weaver and Richard 'Le Patron' Lloyd. After an epic battle for the lead with the Joest Porsche driven by Stefan Johansson that lasted until midnight, we lost a couple of laps with a minor brake problem.

"We couldn't make up the deficit, but we finished a wonderful second overall and Richard appropriately took the car across the line for the final stint. It was surely his finest hour as a driver and manager of his own racing team.

"He was instrumental in getting Bentley not just back in to motor racing, but to mastermind the remarkable achievement of winning Le Mans. His passion for motor racing was remarkable, but more than that he never stopped working to realise the dreams of success.

"Richard and I remained close friends with a great deal of respect for each other. We had a fantastic time and got on so well socially. Richard was the most sincere and honest person you could imagine.

"He still loved to drive too, and I saw him only recently at Brands Hatch when he had been testing his old Chevrolet Camaro, a car that I remembered being in awe of when he was campaigning it in the BTCC.

"His death is such a cruel blow. He leaves a wonderful and supportive wife, Philippa, and his daughters. It seems so sad, too, when Richard was enjoying his time so much, mixing team management with historic driving and helping the BRDC.

"When we were striving to make it to the big time Richard used to always wear a baseball cap that carried the slogan 'Pursuit of Perfection'. That says it all."