Paul Radisich will drive a NASCAR-engined Ford Mustang in the BNT V8s support races at this weekend’s ITM Auckland SuperSprint.

Radisich broke a long absence from car racing when he piloted the same car in the final round of the 2018/19 BNT V8s season last March.

Since then, however, the Mustang has had a Roush Yates FR9 NASCAR engine producing an estimated 800-900hp fitted, with work completed only in recent days (See below for video).

With this weekend’s racing being a non-championship round for BNT V8s, and therefore free of class restrictions, the Collins Mustang is not the only beastly machine in the 15-car field.

Former champion Simon Evans has returned in his modified Holden Commodore SuperTourer which now features over 750hp, paddle shift, traction control, and ABS.

Series regular Lance Hughes has cranked up his own Holden to 630hp, while his new Hamilton Motorsports team-mate, Chelsea Herbert, will be absent from Pukekohe and is instead on her way to the W Series selection trials in Spain.

Nick Ross’ Concept Motorsport Altima TLX has a new look, and there are SuperTourers formerly driven by Greg Murphy, Shane van Gisbergen, and Craig Baird, in the hands of Rob Wallace, John Midgley, and Brayden Phillips respectively.

The New Zealand Touring Cars field hits Pukekohe Park Raceway tomorrow for practice and qualifying, before a trio of 16-lap races across Saturday and Sunday.

Entry list: Non-championship round, Pukekohe Park Raceway