The debut of Nick Ross’ Nissan Altima will highlight this weekend’s opening round of the NZV8 Touring Cars season at Hampton Downs’ V8 SuperFest.

The meeting sees the NZV8s run on the same bill as the NZ SuperTourers Series for just the third time in history.

Powered by a production-based Nissan VK56DE engine, Ross’ Altima is the latest ‘new generation’ TLX chassis to join the NZ V8s.

The Nissan, which features bodywork from Nissan Motorsport’s Australian V8 Supercars effort, enjoyed a shakedown run at Taupo last week in preparation for the event.

Ross won the 2013/14 NZV8 title in a VE Commodore, narrowly defeating Australian Jason Bargwanna, who returns to the wheel of a Richards Team Motorsport Camry this season.

Lance Hughes’ Holden is the only other TLX chassis in the 12 car field, which continues to be bolstered by the previous-generation TL vehicles.

The SuperTourer field will meanwhile consist of 13 cars, again headlined by V8 Supercars stars Shane van Gisbergen, Tim Slade, Jack Perkins, Dale Wood, Greg Murphy, Tony D’Alberto, Steve Owen, Paul Morris and Cameron Waters.

The line-up features just two changes following the season opener at Taupo in September.

Gene Rollinson will join Chris Hanley in the #27 Ford due to the unavailability of Daniel Gaunt, while Andrew Waite replaces John Penny alongside Shaun Varney in the #14 Falcon.

The NZ V8 Utes, SsangYong Actyon Racing Series, Central Muscle Cars and GTRNZ classes complete the V8 Festival program.