A massive field will compete at the inaugural Coates Hire Race of Stars as part of the V8 Superfest at the Pimpama Xtreme Karting facility on Saturday.

The strong mix of local and international talent includes recent Castrol EDGE stars of Karting Series champions Joey Hanssen, Matthew Waters and Liam McLellan.

They will be joined by Brit Darren Burke (Pro Gearbox – KZ2) and New Zealand champions Aaron Marr (Pro Light – KF) and Callum Hedge (Cadets).

Hanssen says events like the Race of Stars keeps the sport fresh.

“Races like this and Kalgoorlie (Dash for Cash) are fantastic for the sport,” Hanssen said.

“Special race meetings like this ensure there is always something new on the horizon to look forward to.

“In Europe there is one special race meeting a year and everything else is a championship.”

A Pro-Am will also be attached to the event that will include selected V8 Supercars and V8 Ute drivers.

Apart from a media stunt pre-Adelaide earlier this year, Scott Pye has not been in a kart competitively for the first time since 2006 when he won the South Australian Championship.

Pye has had a difficult year in V8 Supercars in the Lucas Dumbrell Commodore, however he and the experienced Paul Morris produced a massive surprise at Bathurst last weekend, finishing an outstanding sixth.

“While my main focus is on next weekend’s Gold Coast 600, any time you put the helmet on there is pride on the line and I’m out there to win,” Pye said.

Fellow LDM V8 driver Dean Fiore, DJR drivers Ash Walsh and Tim Blanchard, Maro Engel (Erebus), Nissan co-driver David Russell and V8 Ute drivers Kris Walton, Ryal Harris, Chris Pither and Matt Nolan are also in the field.

Amateurs will be drawn from a list of government representatives, V8 Supercars management, the AMA, media personalities and corporate guests.

Racing is scheduled to start at 8.30am with the finals from 2.30pm at the 1125m Xtreme Karting track at 540 Pimpama Jacobs Well Road, Pimpama.