Central Otago will become V8 central in late January, as a variety of series centred around V8s will converge at Highlands Motorsport Park.
The headline act is the BNT V8 SuperTourers, featuring New Zealand's top drivers competing in their first round of the 2014 season.
Highlands manager Mike Sentch hopes Greg Murphy will be back to defend the 2013 title he won at Pukekohe at the weekend.
It will be the first time this category has raced south of Christchurch.
The SuperTourers will be joined by their customary support act, featuring about 15 V8 Utes.
Fans of Ford Mustangs, Chev Camaros, and Holden Toranas will be thrilled to see about 40 North Island-based Central Muscle Cars at the January 25-26 meeting.
Formed in 2003, by a group of like-minded enthusiasts who wanted to create a class catering to classic competition muscle cars, Central Muscle Cars caters to production vehicles manufactured between 1958 and 1978.
A minimum of 1000 identical units must have been produced in a 12-month period for the car to be eligible.
There are two classes, Group 1 and Group 2. Group 1 allows the competitor more freedoms, including wheel sizes, use of composite panels and a deep front spoiler.
Group 2 is more restricted, aimed at the purist, who prefers their car to remain closer to its standard form.
Group 2 cars have a limit on wheel size, must run original bodywork panels and a maximum of four-pot brakes.
Sentch said he saw muscle cars compete at Pukekohe recently. ''They put on a really good show and have some cool racing formats, like reverse grids.''
The single-seater Toyota Racing Series was pending confirmation for the January weekend.
Highlands will open new spectator areas in the forest to view the 4.1km track configuration that was also used for the Highlands 101 meeting last month. Sentch said they will be ''family oriented'' with shade and viewing berms.
The corporate areas are also being extended.
