Tom Boonen has signed up to take part in a 10-hour endurance race at the wheel of a Porsche 996, the former world cycling champion reported on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Quick Step rider is normally known for his prowess in one-day cycling classics and can count the prestigious Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders and world road race crowns among his list of honors.

Now with the season drawing to a close Boonen will team up with Belgian pair Bert Longin and Anthony Kumpen, the national touring endurance champion,for the race which will be held at the Zolder race track - which coincidentally served as the world cycling championships venue in 2002 - on November 11.

Quick Step team manager Patrick Lefevere said he had no objections: "It's the winter break for the riders, and they can do what they want. "Tom's an adult. He's driving because he wants to but I'm hoping he's taken out some insurance!" Lefevere added. Boonen’s co-driver Kumpen feels the cyclist's prowess in dangerous bunch sprints will come in handy. "He'll make an excellent race driver thanks to his ability to readtrajectories like all good sprinters," he said.

Lefevere said that "racing a car shouldn't be any more dangerous than racing a bike when you see riders hitting speeds of 90kph on some of the descents ofthe big Cols, and on a pair of thin tires."

Boonen, who recently lost his world title to Italian teammate Paolo Bettini, has never hidden his passion for flashy sports cars.

According to some reports the Monaco-based professional already owns a yellow Lamborghini Murcielago.