THIS year’s Bathurst 12 Hour field will feature Super3 series cars in the race’s Invitational class.

Ex-Supercars with a V8 Touring Car dash – currently competing in the Dunlop Super3 Series – will be eligible to join cars from MARC Cars Australia and ‘GTC’ Sports Cars, single-brand categories including the Ferrari Challenge, Lamborghini Trofeo Supercup and Audi R8 Cup, racing this year.

Adding ‘Project Blueprint’-era Supercars to the eligibility list gives competitors with suitable machinery a chance to tackle a long-distance race at Mount Panorama, with the cars currently unable to compete in any other category of racing which participates in it outside the Super2. /3 turns.

V8 touring cars currently compete under the Super3 banner alongside the Dunlop Super2 series.

Eligible cars are pre-Car of the Future Holden Commodores (up to VEII) and Ford Falcons (up to FG).

Adding the cars to the Bathurst 12 Hours eligibility list comes with support from category managers V8 Touring Cars, ARG and Supercars.

Young guns Kai Allen and Bradley Vaughan currently co-lead the Super3 series after their opening round, held recently at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Nash Morris, the son of former Bathurst 12 Hours winner Paul, is the defending champion of the series.