A trio of V8 Supercar stars will be in the thick of the action in round two of the Shannons Nationals this weekend, 26-27 April, at Sydney's Oran Park Raceway.

Two-time Bathurst winner Steven Richards and young-gun Lee Holdsworth will get behind the wheel during a bumper weekend of racing, while reigning V8 Champion Garth Tander will figure behind the scenes.

Fresh from finishing second at last weekend's Hamilton street race in New Zealand, Richards will trade his Ford Performance Racing Falcon for a less-advanced model from the Blue Oval's back catalogue - a 1972 Escort.

Richards will compete in the Biante Touring Car Masters aboard the 1600cc pocket rocket, and looks set to punch well above its weight against more powerful cars such as Chev Camaros and Ford Mustangs.

"I'm really looking forward to racing the Escort this weekend, anyone who can remember motorsport from the 1970s can remember them running around," Richards, who has restored his own Escort in recent years, said.

"I've always been a big fan of them and my first car was an RS2000 Escort.

"I haven't spent much time on racetracks in an Escort but I know them well, they're great little cars so it should be a lot of fun."

Holdsworth's most-recent outing at Oran Park was last year's V8 Supercar round - where he took his maiden race and round win.

This weekend the Garry Rogers Motorsport driver returns to the category where he cut his teeth, Commodore Cup, a competitive series featuring modified VS and VH Holden Commodores, with four-litre V8 engines producing around 400hp.

Currently third in the V8 Supercar standings, Holdsworth will make a one-off appearance as the series pays tribute to alumni Ashley Cooper, who tragically lost his life in an accident at the Clipsal 500.

"The last time I drove a Commodore Cup car was the end of 2003, so it will be good to get back out there," Holdsworth said.

"I always had fun racing in the class, and I've got fond memories of racing at Oran Park.

"It was the scene of my first Commodore Cup podium, I was sixth there in my rookie V8 season and last year I scored my first V8 Supercar win - it's been a happy hunting ground!"

When not on Holden Racing Team duties, reigning V8 Supercar Champion Tander devotes much of his time to TanderSport, a team he and wife Leanne formed which runs two cars in the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship.

Leanne, who finished second in last year's series, leads the team with Garth - who is second in the V8 points after winning all three races at Hamilton - taking an active role in the team.

"I really enjoy working on the cars and building up our team - it's a great diversion from the pressures that come with being a V8 Supercar driver," he said.

"When Leanne races, I'm the dogsbody! I'm basically going back to what I used to do - my first job was a mechanic and if I wasn't driving at the level I am, this is what I would be doing.

"I enjoy doing it and it's a bonus do be able to do it with my wife; a lot of time gets spent on my career so this is the chance to give Leanne the same opportunities, as well as build up a sustainable business for when we retire from driving."

The Tankworld Australian Supertrucks and Saloon Cars also feature on the Oran Park program.

Action kicks off at 9am on Saturday, with racing from 4:00pm ahead of racing all-day Sunday.

Tickets are great value at $15 on Saturday and $35 on Sunday, or $45 for a weekend pass.

Child (11-16 years) tickets are $10 on Saturday and $15 on Sunday, with kids 10 and under free all weekend.

For more information about the 2008 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships, visit www.thenationals.com.au.