Motorsport: British racer killed in training crash

Kiwi driver Richie Stanaway has also been driving in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup this year. Photo/Supplied

Sean Edwards, a promising British racer and son of ex-Formula One driver Guy Edwards, died Tuesday in a crash during training. He was 26.

Edwards, the Porsche Supercup Championship leader, was in the passenger seat as an instructor for a private training session at Queensland Raceway at Willowbank, outside Brisbane, Porsche Motorsport said.

A 20-year-old local driver was behind the wheel when the car crashed into a tire wall, hit a barrier and caught fire. The driver was taken to a hospital and is reported to be in a critical condition with severe burns and broken bones.

Sean Edwards was recently involved in director Ron Howard's movie "Rush" about the 1976 Formula One season. Guy Edwards was one of the drivers who helped pull Niki Lauda from his burning car during the 1976 German Grand Prix.

Sean Edwards had told fans he would be in Australia on a short visit before returning for the last two races of the Supercup series.

In his last post on Twitter, he said: "Time to hit Queensland Raceway today, should be fun, hope there aren't too many kangaroos like at Bathurst!" a reference to Australia's premier endurance auto racing event last weekend.

Hartmut Kristen, Head of Motorsport at Porsche, described Edwards "one of the most popular and successful" drivers in the Porsche series. Edwards won the Nurburgring and Dubai 24 Hours this year.

The British Motor Sports Association said: "Sean was a hugely promising young racer who came through the junior formulas in Britain before making a career in international sports car racing,"

Former F1 driver David Coulthard posted a tweet saying: "Shocking news about Sean Edwards' passing, top man and super talented racer, condolences to his nearest and dearest."

Edwards had told fans via social media he would be in Australia on a short visit before returning for the last two races of the Supercup series.

Calls to the Queensland Raceway and chief executive John Tetley seeking comment were not returned. Domestic media reported it was the second fatal accident at the circuit in five months, with a 23-year-old motorcycle racer killed after a collision with another motorcycle in June.

Brisbane's The Courier-Mail newspaper identified the injured local driver as Will Holzheimer and said he was having a coaching session with Edwards.

Queensland state police and the Workplace Health and Safety unit are investigating.

Sean Edwards started his racing career in 2003 in Formula Ford, and later competed in Formula Renault UK, British GT and the FIA GT3 Championship before starting his Porsche Supercup career in 2008.

Allan McNish, a three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner, told the Press Association that he had followed Sean Edwards' career closely and 2013 was shaping up as his breakthrough season.

"He was a guy who loved life, loved racing, loved cycling, was strong and fit," McNish was quoted as saying. "He was just a really nice young guy who was making his mark on the sport, and socially a really good guy to be around."