With the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season now at an end, bamboo engineering has confirmed that it will kick-start its 2010 preparations early with an entry into the end of season European Touring Car Cup.

The team, formed mid-way through the 2009 season, will field two Chevrolet Lacettis in the event, which will be held at the Braga circuit in Portugal later this month.

Regular driver Harry Vaulkhard will drive one of the cars, while local ace Duarte Felix Da Costa will be at the wheel of the second car.

“We are very much looking forward to the ETCC event in Portugal with two cars,” team boss Richard Coleman said. “I think it will be a great experience for Harry, and I genuinely think we have a dark horse with Duarte, he is a quick driver and has very good circuit knowledge. I'd like to thank Chevrolet Portugal for their support in putting this together for us.”

Vaulkhard admitted he was delighted to be heading for the Portuguese event and said he was confident that the local knowledge provided by his team-mate would help in the fight for success.

“I'm really looking forward to this event,” he said. “Looking at the circuit the Chevrolet should be a strong car round there and to have someone alongside me with the experience of Duarte - with his recent knowledge of the track - should put us in a great position for a good result there.”