Nissan’s touring car heritage will take centre stage at the popular Historic Sandown festival this weekend.

The racing action is headlined by the Heritage Touring Car season finale and the opening round of the MSC Formula 5000 Tasman Revival.

Brian Hendersen’s ex-George Fury Nissan Bluebird, which made a promotional appearance at the recent Bathurst 1000, will enjoy its racing return in the HTC.

Hendersen will campaign the restored car himself, some 29 years after its most recent race start.

The entry joins existing HTC Bluebird runner Adam Workman, whose car was campaigned by Fury at Bathurst in 1981 and 82.

Adding to the Nissan flavour, HR31 and R32 GT-R Skylines are also represented in the HTC field.

Tony Alford will race his recently purchased ex-Alf Grant HR31, while Terry Lawlor is set to again front in his GIO GT-R.

The other three surviving Group A GT-Rs in Australia – the 1991 and 1992 Bathurst winning cars, as well as the third placed car from the 1992 race – will be on display at the meeting.

Lawlor leads the Group A standings heading to the season finale from David Towe (ex-JPS BMW M3) and David Paterson (ex-Bob Holden Toyota Sprinter).

Ford Escort driver Justin Matthews meanwhile leads the Group C points from John Douglas (Mazda RX-7) and Greg Keam (Escort).

The 20-strong Formula 5000 field will again pit the leading New Zealand competitors against their Australian counterparts.

Reigning series winner Steve Ross has undertaken a major rebuild of his McRae GM1 over the off-season and is expected to provide a challenge to local youngster Tom Tweedie (Chevron B24).

Aside from a single mechanical failure, Tweedie was undefeated in the Australian events that he contested last year.

Others among the field for the three races include Australians Richard Davison, D’Arcy Russell and Alfredo Costanzo.