Former Champ Car driver Alex Zanardi will return to the Lausitzring in 2002, 12 months after a crash at the circuit cost him both of his legs.

The Italian had both legs amputated after the horrific crash in a Cart race at the track last September.

Lausitzring manager Hans-Joerg Fischer said the 35-year-old Italian had agreed to signal the start of the race on 21 September.

The circuit is contracted to host a round in the US motor racing series, the American equivalent of Formula One, every year until 2005.

Zanardi has learnt to walk again with the use of prosthetic limbs and has vowed to race again.