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Sean Edwards RIP

Cunno

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Just seen this
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110646
Jon




Sean Edwards killed in Porsche crash at Queensland Raceway

Porsche Supercup championship leader Sean Edwards has been killed in a crash in Australia.

The 26-year-old Briton was a passenger in a Porsche 996 that hit the barriers at Queensland Raceway in Willowbank during a private test session on Tuesday.

Edwards was killed instantly on impact with the tyre wall on the outside of the track at Turn 6.

The accident was initially attended to by onlookers after the car burst into flames on impact.

The local emergency services spent three hours extracting the driver - a 20-year-old man from Brisbane - from the burning wreckage. He is currently in intensive care with life-threatening injuries.

An ultra-successful season in 2013 had featured victories for Edwards in the Nurburgring and Dubai 24 Hours, wins in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and in the GTC class of the American Le Mans Series.

He currently leads the Supercup standings with just one double-header at Yas Marina remaining on November 2-3

sean-edwards_100443159_m.jpg


Allan McNish has paid tribute to Sean Edwards, one of Britain's leading sportscar drivers who was killed in an accident in Australia.

As a passenger in a Porsche 996, Edwards died when the car - being driven by a 20-year-old from Brisbane - burst into flames upon hitting a barrier at the Queensland Raceway in Willowbank.

It is understood Edwards was taking part in the second day of a two-day coaching session for young drivers at the racetrack.

The driver survived the crash, but is currently being treated in a local hospital having sustained severe injuries and burns.

Edwards is currently leading this year's Porsche Supercup standings, a series which supports Formula One at a number of grands prix, with a double header looming in Abu Dhabi next month to conclude the campaign.

The 26-year-old was the son of former F1 driver Guy Edwards, who is renowned for pulling Niki Lauda from the wreckage of his burning Ferrari following the Austrian's crash at the Nurburgring in 1976.

Three-times Le Mans 24 Hours winner McNish told Press Association Sport: "I knew his father initially from his sponsorship days, so I have followed Sean's career a wee bit closer than you would normally do.

"The tragedy of it is he was leading the Supercup championship after such strong performances through the middle of the year. It looked like he was going to win.

"Also, having won the Nurburgring 24 Hours this year (with Mercedes), I would say this was probably his strongest year in racing.

"To win that, with all the German manufacturers, and the powerhouse of European motorsport outside of Formula One, then that's a big, big deal.

"He also won the Porsche Supercup race in Monaco this year by 20 seconds, which is unheard of in a one-make-spec championship.

"So, overall for me, this was a breakthrough year for him. He was showing what talent he had, but had maybe never had the opportunity to actually display it.

"Apart from that, he was a guy who loved life, loved racing, loved cycling, was strong and fit.

"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."

In a statement, the Motor Sports Association said it was "shocked and saddened" by Edwards' death.

The statement added: "Sean was a hugely promising young racer who came through the junior formulas in Britain, before making a career in international sportscar racing.

"He is leading the 2013 Porsche Supercup championship, and had won both the Nurburgring and Dubai 24 Hours this year.

"The MSA extends its deepest sympathies to Sean's family, friends and fans at this difficult time."

Via Twitter, former F1 star David Coulthard wrote: "Shocking news about Sean Edwards' passing, top man and super talented racer, condolences to his nearest and dearest."

In light of his victories for Mercedes this year at the Nurburgring and in Dubai, via their F1 twitter feed the German manufacturing giant wrote: "We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sean Edwards.

"We were proud to have him as a member of the Mercedes-Benz family following his Nurburgring 24 Hours win earlier this year. RIP."

Edwards started his racing career back in 2003 in Formula Ford, going on to compete in Formula Renault UK, British GT, the FIA GT3 Championship - which he won in 2006 - before embarking on his Porsche Supercup career from 2008.
 

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Very sad news.
Condolences to his family and friends. RIP.
 
Absolutely tragic news. Sean was a lovely guy to talk to, very down to earth & very funny. He'll be a great loss to the sport on which he'd already made his mark.

RIP Sean, it was a pleasure to know you.
 
911UK said:
Sean Edwards 1986-2013

Sean Edwards was also a fellow forum member and regular poster on 911uk.com during his active years when the site was involved in reporting on his Supercup activities.

Sean Edwards was also associated with the site in an official capacity as our preferred Driver Trainer for 3 years from 2008 through to 2010.

For those who were privileged enough to have been in his company for his Driver Training services, his race craft and ability to communicate Performance driving made him the best in the business. The are a lot of driver trainers out there, but the manner in which he was able to articulate 'performance driving' was 2nd to none.

For the many years that I drove my GT3, from a complete novice to becoming a confident track day driver, I learnt everything over a 3 year period with driving training from Sean Edwards. He was an exception teacher and even for one so young, it was clear that he had a driving gift, that was demonstrated by consistently winning races and class victories across the globe.

His debut in the Porsche Supercup series in 2008 was sensational, winning 2 races in his 1st season in what is one of the most competitive race series around, which he carried regularly through to the German Carrera Cup for many year.

Having raced in every top flight race series all over the world and 2013 had been his most successful year adding the Nurburgring 24 Hour race title in a Mercedes SLS this year to prove that he was more than just a Porsche specialist. As the series leader of this years Porsche Supercup championship he was also in 2nd place in the BRDC Gold Star drivers title, only just behind Lewis Hamilton.

http://www.brdc.co.uk/Gold-Silver-Stars
BRDC Gold Star standings 2013
(As at 7 October 2013)
POSITION DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1st Lewis Hamilton MBE F1 178
2nd Sean Edwards ALMS(GTE)/PMSC/Nurburgring 24 Hours 163

Sean Edwards, the motorsport will miss you, may you rest in peace.

As a tribute to Sean Edwards, here is his onboard video from the 2011 Porsche World Cup at the Nordschleife in the driving rain, doing what he did best.



 

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Very sad news. He was a talented driver.
 
RIP Sean Edwards

;(
 
Very sad news.

RIP Sean
 
Can't believe this has happened. What a stupid waste of talent and life.

RIP Sean
 

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