WARREN Hughes will return to Le Mans this year with Portuguese team ASM, after securing a deal to contest the 24-hour event together with the opening round of the Le Mans Series.

This will be Sunderland drivers Hughes seventh visit to the La Sarthe circuit after first appearing for the works MG team in 2001.

In 2005 he won the LMP2 category of the race in an RML run Lola setting the lap record in the process. The following year he returned to the LMP2 class with the ASM team for two years with his last outing coming in 2008 with the Embassy Racing team.

Hughes will partner Olivier Pla and Miguel Amaral, who were the winners of the LMP2 class in the 2009 Le Mans Series with ASM in a Ginetta/Zytek.

After visiting the teams Lisbon base earlier last week to conclude the deal and have a seat fitting in the car, Hughes said: "This is brilliant news for me.

"I've wanted to return to Le Mans with ASM since I last drove for them in 2007 and I'm glad this opportunity has arisen.

"This is one of the most sought after drives in LMP2 - I'm joining the team after a very successful season in 2009 and they're continuing with a car that they understand very well.

"I know the team well and I'll also be working once again with race engineering, Alan Mugglestone, one of the very best engineers and strategists I've worked with in my career."

Team owner, Antonio Simoes said of Hughes: "Warren is a driver who everyone here at ASM rate very highly.

"His experience, ability and personality fit in perfectly with us. I'm delighted that circumstances have allowed us to get together again. He will strengthen our team considerably."

Hughes will also be on standby as the team's third driver for the remainder of the Le Mans Series events. Testing for the first race begins at the Paul Ricard Circuit this weekend with the race being held over the weekend of April 10/11.