James Thompson is to compete in the European Touring Car Cup for the first time after confirmation that Hartmann Honda will enter two cars in the end of the season event.

Thompson, who ran with the team in the Danish Touring Car Championship as part of his busy 2009 programme, will become the second driver from the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship on the grid after bamboo engineering revealed it will also take part in the event at the Braga circuit in Portugal.

The Briton will be at the wheel of a Honda Accord Euro R for the meeting as he seeks to secure the ETC crown, having missed out on the Danish title after missing the final rounds of the season while racing with Team Vodafone in the V8 Supercar enduro events.


After having battled at the local circuits in this year's Danish Touringcar Championship Hartmann Honda Racing finishes off its 2009 season in a warmer climate. At the Portuguese Braga circuit the team will be entering James Thompson and Per Poulsen for this year's European Touring Car Cup.

“We would like to get revenge for the Danish title that we lost,” team boss Hans Hartmann said. ”I don't know how other people estimate our chances in the race, but I do believe that we must rang among the favourites. At least I hope so.

“We don't fear any of the rival, and we have the advantage of taking two cars along, and that we will use in qualifying, where the 900 metre straight makes it vital with some slipstreaming, so that the lead car can help the following car up to speed.

”We saw how James last year could end up with fastest time of the on his first visit ever to Jyllandsringen, so he will also be able to cope with this circuit.”

Thompson will be joined in the Hartmann line-up by Danish racer Per Poulsen.