Inaugural series champion Scott McLaughlin will be one of several absentees from the opening V8 SuperTourer round at Highlands Motorsport Park this weekend.

The Supercheap Auto Holden driver’s father and team manager, Wayne McLaughlin, has sited poor economics for the decision not to front at the first of seven rounds in the category’s third season.

“It is a huge expense for all of the V8SuperTourer teams to not only prepare their cars so quickly after the last round, but also to get all the way to Cromwell (north of Queenstown on the South Island),” McLaughlin said.

“So to only have two 12-lap races, and a single 20-lap race, meant it wasn’t worth it for us.

“We would have liked to compete at Highlands but it just doesn’t make good business sense from our perspective, to participate this time.”

There are believed to be only 12 of the 19 cars confirmed for the meeting, which takes place less than two months after the 2013 season finale.

Fellow V8 Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen will also be absent as he is racing in the Daytona 24 Hours in the United States.

Young McLaughlin said he was disappointed to miss out on racing at a new circuit.

“I’m gutted that I won’t be at the first round but understand where the team is coming from,” he said.

“I’ve heard good things about the track (Highlands) so hopefully I can go there soon to have a crack,” the driver said.

“We hope to be at the next round of the SuperTourers but we’ll wait and see what happens after this weekend.”

The depleted grid will also be without regular Kiwi stars John McIntyre and Paul Manuell, who have both stepped out of their own cars in order to run funded drivers.

2014 V8 SuperTourers calendar

Round 1: January 25-26, Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell
Round 2: February 8-9, Manfeild, Palmerston North
Round 3: March 22-23, Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland
Round 4: April 25-27, Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland
Round 5: September 6-7, Fathers Day 400, Taupo Motorsport Park, Taupo
Round 6: November 1-2, South Island, *TBC
Round 7: November 28-30, Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland