The Kumho V8 Touring Cars Series has confirmed a new structure for next season including the introduction of a heritage class.

The third-tier Supercars series will adopt three classes for next season in a bid to open the competition up to more drivers.

Changes follow a rise in professional teams and drivers entering the category, highlighted by former Supercars full-timer Taz Douglas, who took out this year’s title.

The series will retain an outright Pro class competition which will run alongside the new-for-2017 Kumho Cup, designed for privateer teams and drivers.

Kumho Cup competitors will be graded using a GT-style seeding system, with drivers ‘seeded on their merits or at the discretion of category management’.

While still remaining eligible for outright/Kumho Cup points, entrants running models up to and including Holden VX Commodore or Ford’s AU Falcon will be eligible for the Heritage class next year.

Competitors will also be encouraged to run their vehicles in their original livery, with a trophy awarded to the best heritage livery on track.

“The new outright/Kumho Cup system is a way to better recognise the efforts of the privateer competitors in the Kumho Series next year,” said category manager Liam Curkpatrick.

“While it is exciting and great for the series that more and more professional teams, like THR Developments, Image Racing, Matt Stone Racing and Brad Jones Racing are joining the series, it is also very important that we continue to support the core of the series which is the guys that do it as much for the love and enjoyment as the results.

“A core appeal of the series is that it allows the privateer runners to continue to race competitively and we want to enhance that.

“They need to be recognised and rewarded for their commitment to the championship and we think this system will better support their ambitions of getting on the podium alongside the young guns and professionals that fight it out at the pointy-end.”

The Kumho V8 Touring Car Series will be contested over five rounds next year beginning at Phillip Island from April 21-23.