BRIGGIN HILL, England — Well known driver David Leslie and GTi Engineering head Richard Lloyd were among five people killed here Sunday when their Citation business jet crashed shortly after takeoff into a housing development near this World War II RAF Fighter base. According to witnesses, the plane was attempting to return to the field after suffering from what was described as an engine vibration.
Although the ensuing post-crash fire consumed both the house and the plane, no one on the ground was inured, the private dwelling being unoccupied at the time.
Lloyd and Leslie were said to be on their way to Italy to test a new Jaguar XJR racing car at the time of the tragedy. Lloyd was best known for his successes during the 1980s with his Cannon-sponsored Porsche 956 Group C prototype sportscars that featured advanced honeycombed chassis. Leslie’s successes included not only class victories at Le Mans, but a top-rate career in the Touring Car universe as well.