68 Supercars to race at Phillip Island

Strong grids for the Dunlop Super2 Series and Kumho V8 Touring Car Series will see a total of 68 Supercars take to the track at the WD-40 Phillip Island 500.

This weekend marks the first time that the three tiers have each run a points-paying round at the same event, creating an unprecedented feast of Supercars action.

Super2 is open to current specification Next Generation Supercars as well as the older FG Falcon and VEII Commodore models.

The independently-run Kumho Series features Falcons from EB-FG and Commodores from VP-VEII, ensuring an eclectic mix of Supercars spanning from 1993 to 2012.

Super2 boasts an unchanged 23-car grid from the most recent round at Symmons Plains, with Brad Jones Racing hurriedly re-shelling its Macauley Jones and Jack Smith Holdens to make the grid.

BJR and Smith will also compete in the 19-strong V8 Touring Car field - the main series squad preparing a VEII for the youngster amid efforts to fast-track his development.

Eggleston Motor Sport, Matt Stone Racing and Image Racing join BJR in running Super2 and V8 Touring Car entries at Phillip Island.

Eggleston will field Jamie Whincup’s 2011 Supercars Championship winning Triple Eight Holden in the V8 Touring Cars, which is expected to be driven by young gun Tyler Greenbury.

MSR meanwhile has youngster Jack Sipp (ex-Paul Morris Holden) and veteran Chris Smerdon (ex-SBR Ford) in the Kumho Series, running alongside its two Next Generation Commodores and single Falcon FG in Super2.

Terry Wyhoon’s Image team has picked up ex-BJR driver Josh Smith, who is teamed with Australian Formula Ford Series gradate Jordan Boys in a pair of ex-Stone Brothers Racing Fords.

The squad also has a third entry for Leigh Moran, whose ex-Ford Performance Racing Falcon featured in last year’s V8 Touring Car Series wearing its original Craig Lowndes Caterpillar livery.

Cars running in familiar colours at Phillip Island will include the ex-Triple Eight Holden of Supercars returnee Geoff Emery and Troy Stapleton’s ever-popular ex-Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon EL.

ENTRY LIST – Round 1 Kumho Tyre Australian V8 Touring Cars Series