A senior Brisbane barrister has apologised for falling asleep and snoring during an inquest into the death of a professional race car driver Sean Edwards.

David Tait QC is representing Mr Edwards’s family and had to be woken by the lawyer assisting him during the second day of the inquest on Tuesday.

The headline ‘Snore and Order’ accompanied a photo of him splashed across the front page of Queensland’s The Courier-Mail newspaper on Wednesday.

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At the start of proceedings this morning, Mr Tait apologised to the court, the bar table and all parties involves for his discourtesy.

But he said he did not agree with the journalist who suggested his snoring was the most important thing that happened at the inquiry that day.

He said the death of his client’s son was the most important issue.

Deputy state coroner John Lock accepted the QC’s apology.

The inquest in Brisbane is examining the circumstances surrounding Edwards’ death at the Queensland Raceway, south-west of Brisbane.

The 26-year-old son of Formula One driver Guy Edwards, was a passenger in a race car when it ploughed into a concrete wall on the final bend and caught fire in October 2013.

Edwards died soon after the incident, while amateur driver Will Holzheimer suffered significant injuries that left him unable to walk for a period of time.

The inquest continues.

– ABC