David Leslie
David Leslie (born 9th November 1953 in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, died 30th March 2008 in Farnborough, Kent, UK) was a British racing driver most notable for his appearances Touring Car and Sportscar racing. He was particularly noted for his qualifying pace over a lap and his development skill, being a key figure in Toyota's Group A program in the late 80's and early 90's.
World Touring Car Masters
1988
Good performances in the World Sportscar Championship and a performance in the Oulton Park round of the 1987 BTCC saw David Leslie getting signed by Union Saver Developments, the factory team entered by Toyota in the 1988 World Touring Car Masters.
Leslie got a regular if unspectacular season - he started the year with a B Class podium at Bathurst, before taking his first class pole position at Watkins Glen - his first of 8 class poles that year, the most of any driver in the field. He took his first class victory in the Hockenheim sprint race, where he also took pole position and fastest lap, and on the next weekend at Charade scored his first endurance race class victory, taking pole position and fastest lap as well. He finished the season ranked 4th in B Class, on 247 points and as the leading Toyota in the standings. In overall terms speaking, Leslie obtained a best result of 10th place at the Charade Endurance Race, ending the season ranked 28th, scoring 21 points.
1989
In 1989, Leslie was able to continue his development of the Supra Turbo and as such was able to take the Class B title.
Later life
Prior to his untimely death, Leslie was mainly occupied as a commentator for Eurosport as well as a Motorsports Management lecturer at Swansea Metropolitan.
Leslie, along with four others, died in March 2008 when they were involved in a plane crash in Kent whilst travelling to the Nogaro circuit in France.
Complete World Touring Car Masters Results
Year | Team | Car | Class | WDC | Pts | Class | Pts | |||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | Union Saver Developments | Toyota Supra Turbo | B | Template:AUS | Template:USA | Template:FRA | Template:GBR | Template:BEL | 28th | 21 | 4th | 247 | ||||||||||||||||||
E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | ||||||||||
BAT 25 |
BAT 32 |
FUJ 26 |
FUJ 25 |
GLN 22 |
GLN 25 |
NOR DNQ |
NOR DNQ |
KYA Ret |
KYA 28 |
HOC 14 |
HOC 15 |
CHA 10 |
CHA 24 |
BIR Ret |
BIR 18 |
MNZ Ret |
MNZ 26 |
SPA Ret |
SPA 27 |
NUR 12 | ||||||||||
1989 | Union Saver Developments | Toyota Supra Turbo | B | Template:USA | Template:FRA | Template:FRA | Template:GBR | Template:BEL | Template:AUS | 8th | 96 | 1st | 359 | |||||||||||||||||
E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | ||||||||||
FUJ Ret |
FUJ 13 |
GLN 6 |
GLN 14 |
KYA 7 |
KYA 10 |
PAU DNQ |
PAU DNQ |
BRN Ret |
BRN 11 |
MNZ 5 |
MNZ 14 |
CHA 3 |
CHA 10 |
BIR Ret |
BIR 24 |
SPA 14 |
SPA 8 |
NUR 2 |
NUR 9 |
BAT Ret | ||||||||||
1990 | Union Saver Developments | Toyota Supra Turbo | B | Template:USA | Template:GBR | Template:FRA | Template:FRA | Template:GBR | Template:BEL | Template:AUS | 20th | 51 | 5th | 280 | ||||||||||||||||
E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | S | E | ||||||||
FUJ 10 |
FUJ 14 |
GLN Ret |
GLN 17 |
LAG Ret |
LAG 14 |
BRH 9 |
BRH 10 |
PAU Ret |
PAU 14 |
BRN Ret |
BRN 11 |
MNZ DNQ |
MNZ DNQ |
CHA 6 |
CHA 12 |
BIR 11 |
BIR 16 |
SPA 14 |
SPA 13 |
NUR Ret |
NUR 21 |
BAT Ret |