A selection of Australian Touring Car Masters stars will head to New Zealand’s Highlands Park to race against local Central Muscle Car competitors early next year.

The trans-Tasman battle will take place at the second annual Highlands Festival of Speed on January 31-February 1.

At least nine TCM entries will be shipped to the showcase event, which follows previous battles between the two categories at Sydney Motorsport Park’s Muscle Car Masters.

Although the TCM board is yet to confirm which competitors will get the call-up, leading drivers John Bowe (Ford Mustang), Jim Richards (Ford Falcon Sprint) and Andrew Miedecke (Chevrolet Camaro) are expected to be among the field.

“We are thrilled to have been invited to Highlands for the Festival of Speed next year,” said TCM director and competitor, Tony Hunter.

“It is a massive feather in the cap for our series and our competitors that they are regarded highly enough for this invitation to be extended our way from New Zealand and the Highlands promoters. We will be doing our all to help put on the best show possible.

“Each time TCM and CMC cars have raced head-to-head it’s been exciting, crowd pleasing and fantastic fun, and that’s what we are all about.

“Our series is very excited to be part of this event and are looking forward to putting on a show for our Kiwi friends.”

Despite the CMC rulebook being more liberal than the TCM’s, the Australian cars proved highly competitive against the Kiwis when they went head-to-head at SMP in 2012.

Bowe set the fastest lap and led the race until losing a wheel with two laps remaining, handing the win to Kiwi Shane Wigston and his HQ Holden.

The penultimate round of the 2014 TCM season will take place at Bathurst this weekend, boasting a 29-strong field.

Bowe enters the event with a 48 point lead over Richards, with Miedecke 55 further adrift in third.