Porsche Cars Australia has confirmed a 19 car field for the opening round of the new Carrera Cup season at this weekend’s Clipsal 500 Adelaide.

The grid is split into 13 Outright entries and just six in the Challenge division amid widespread change since the end of last season.

Former front-runners missing from the grid include reigning champion Nick Foster, runner-up David Russell, the now category Drive Standards Advisor Craig Baird and Dunlop Series convert Richard Muscat.

In their place come the likes of Alex Davison, Dean Fiore and David Wall, who all return to the category following time away, as well as rookie Ashley Walsh.

Driving for Michael Almond’s Copyworld squad, former champion Davison is expected to provide the strongest challenge to McElrea Racing’s Matt Campbell and 2014 winner Steven Richards.

Richards will be undertaking double duties in Adelaide as he also debuts his team’s new BMW M6 Australian GT entry.

Regular suspects Shane Smollen, Stephen Grove and Tony Bates are meanwhile set to again battle out the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge for gentleman drivers.

The division has lost both Scott Taylor and Ash Samadi since the end of last season, with both electing to concentrate on their Australian GT efforts this year.

Carrera Cup Clipsal 500 entry list

#4. Stephen Grove (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Grove Hire
#7. Matt Campbell (Outright) Phase 8/McElrea Racing
#8. Dean Fiore (Outright) Saint/Porsche Centre Melbourne
#9. Marc Cini (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Hallmarc
#12. Steven Richards (Outright) Laser Plumbing and Electrical
#13. James Bergmuller (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) pricepressure.com.au
#21. Garth Walden (Outright) Commercial Interior Projects
#24. Tony Bates (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Move It Net/AFS
#25. Alex Davison (Outright) Copyworld/Toshiba
#26. Michael Almond (Outright) Copyworld/Toshiba
#38. David Wall (Outright) Wilson Security
#39. Adrian Mastronardo (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Veritas Property #Group
#45. Duvashen Padayachee (Outright) Darrell Lea STIX
#54. James Abela (Outright) Horsley Park Gun Shop
#56. Shane Smollen (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) McGrath Estate Agents
#77. Nick McBride (Outright) Bob Jane T-Marts
#88. Dylan O’Keeffe (Outright) All Star Equipment Sales/Dexion Supply Centre
#360. Fraser Ross (Outright) 360fly
#777. Ash Walsh (Outright) Bob Jane T-Marts

VIDEO: Carrera Cup Adelaide preview