With
his previous experience as a member of the MG works squad
in 2001/ 2002, Warren Hughes was an obvious candidate to
join Mike and Tommy in the RML MG EX264 for Le Mans in 2005.
On
his debut at Le Mans in 2001 Warren placed the EX257 on
pole position in the LMP675 class, co driving alongside
Anthony Reid and Jonny Kane. They were back again the next
year, running as high as third overall before a gearbox
malady sidelined their charge.
Warren
has been described as "one of the best drivers outside
F1", and his record suggests that a career alongside
the likes of Rubens Barichello and Jacques Villeneuve -
both of whom he comprehensively demolished during his F3
career - should have been his just reward. Instead we're
delighted to see him in sportscars, although he still retains
the best statistical record ever achieved in F3, with 19
wins from 24 starts when he took the title in 1990.
Two
years ago success came his way at the wheel of a Team LNT
TVR T400R, with a GT2 win at Spa in April's LMES 1000 kilometers.
In 2006 he had a less rewarding Spa outing in one of LNT's
Panoz Esperante, when his race ended an hour before the
finish following a chance meeting with a Ferrari 430 at
the Bus Stop. He also raced for LNT in the British GT Championship,
the ALMS, and was expected to be a member of their squad
at Le Mans. By strange twist of fate, however, he ended
up co-driving one of RML's closest rivals in the LMP2 category
- the Antonio Simoes Motorsport (Chamberlain) Lola B05/40
#39. He subsequently returned to LNT duties, and was impressive
at Donington Park in Round 4 of the Le Mans Series (August
27th 2006) when helping the #81 Panoz to an impressive victory
in GT2.
This
year, 2007, Warren has secured a full-time drive in the
Le Mans Series with Embassy Racing, sharing the team's Radical
SR9 with Kiwi Niel Cunningham. For Le Mans however, he returns
once more to the Lola seat he occupied in 2006; co driving
the #40 Quifel ASM Lola B05/40 with Miguel Amaral and Miguel
de Castro.They remain one of RML's closest rivals in the
24 Hours.
In
the past Warren's association has frequently been with the
MG brand, not only racing the XPowered-prototypes, but also
giving the marque some rare victories in the British Touring
Car Championship. Even before that, back in 1999, he was
racing MGs, adding the MGF crown to his many achievements.
Warren
is married with one child and lives in Sunderland.