Coulthard's tributes to racing mentor

David Coulthard has paid tribute to his friend and mentor, ex-Touring Car racer David Leslie, who died in a plane crash on Sunday. In his 13-year BTCC career Leslie won nine races, finished runner-up in 1999 and then retired in 2003.

Apex Motorsport boss Richard Lloyd, also a former Touring Car racer, was among those who died. Their private jet crashed into a house in Farnborough in the UK. No-one on the ground was injured but all five people in the plane lost their lives.

Leslie had known DC for more than 20 years and helped him progress his racing career. Coulthard said: "I was shocked to hear the terrible news. David was a friend and was instrumental in helping me make the transition from kart racing to cars.

"Throughout the winter of 1988 and all through 1989 both David and his father coached and guided my career to the point where I entered a multi-year contract with Paul Stewart Racing in 1990 which lead to me making my grand prix debut four years later.

"He was selfless in his help and advice and regularly would jump in my Formula Ford race car to show me the correct single-seaters.

"My thoughts are with all the families involved and, of course, to David's wife Jane and their two sons."

Leslie’s death comes just months after fellow Scottish rally driver Colin McRae, also a friend of DC’s, died in a helicopter accident in September last year.