The plane crash that killed David Leslie, Richard Lloyd and three others when their Cessna plummeted into a house en route from Biggin Hill to Pau was an accident, according to an inquest jury.
Lloyd, Leslie, pilot Michael Roberts, Chris Allarton and co-pilot Michael Chapman died in March 2008. The inquest heard that Roberts had reported problems with the plane almost immediately after take-off for Nogaro to test a Jaguar.
Lloyd was a fascinating character who started off in the music industry, set up his own PR company founded VW specialist GTi Engineering and set up his own race team, which eventually overshadowed his own impressive racing exploits. He was still regularly seen with his Spitfire in historics, though.
Leslie, a long-serving British Touring Car driver, but also shone in the World Sportscar Championship and at TWR.
James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car