British rally legend Tony Pond, who made his name competing in cars prepared at Cowley, has died at home in Watlington after a seven-month battle against pancreatic cancer, aged 56.

Pond was a popular hero in the 1970s and early 1980s because of his spectacular style at the wheel of some of the fastest cars of the day.

He made his debut in 1967 driving a Hillman Imp and in 1974 entered the World Rally Championship fray behind the wheel of an Opel in the RAC Rally.

His style of driving against the likes of Jimmy McRae and Russell Brookes won him the hearts of many of Britain's rally fans.

He drove a multitude of cars, including Triumph TR7 V8s, Vauxhall Chevettes, Lotus Sunbeams and an MG Metro 6R4.

Pond made his name in a V8-engined Triumph TR7, one of the archetypal cars of the 1970s.

But he continued to star into the 1980s, first at the wheel of a Rover Vitesse and then the four-wheel-drive Metro 6R4, which was also prepared for rallying by the firm's competition department based at Cowley.

The highlight of Pond's career was the 1985 RAC Rally - as the British round of the world championship was then called - when he finished third in the 6R4. He also finished third in the 1981 Tour of Corsica in a Datsun Violet.

His international career ended with the demise of Group B, and he returned to the national arena. One of his most famous feats was recording a 100mph average lap of the Manx TT course in a near-standard Rover Vitesse in 1988.

Pond is survived by his wife Nikki and son James.