British Eurosport has announced that double British Touring Car Championship title-winner John Cleland is to replace t꧅he late David Leslie in its World Touring Car Championship commentary team.

Leslie, who was one of five to die in a plane crash last month in Kent, had been part of the Eurosport commentary team for nearly a decade working alongside Martin Haven on a rang꧂e of series - with the pair having commentated 💧on the WTCC since its reincarnation back in 2005.

Cleland will now fill t🌺he void left by his fellow Scotsman from the next round of the season in Spain although the former Vauxhall factory driver admits that he has a big pair of shoes to fill.

"I knew David very well and competed against him on the track for many years," he told Yahoo Eurosport. "He was a good driver, engineer and, latterly, commentator. He was only in his early fifties🌠 and that makes it even more trag🔯ic.

"David will b🌌e a hard act to follow, but I am looking forward to the season. I hope I can provide viewers with a driver's view and a different slant."

Have🦩n added that he was looking to forward toꦚ working alongside his new broadcast partner.

"John became a household name during the ♔heyday of the BTCC in the 1990s and is still probably thi🐭s country's most recognised touring car driver," he said. "He should add extra spice to what is already shaping up to be a classic WTCC season."