Hosted by Grant Denyer with V8 Supercar stars - and former Bathurst winners - Rick and Todd Kelly as judges, the new Shannons Supercar Showdown features a range of young drivers from Australia and overseas competing in a series of elimination challenges.
The 10 drivers include three females and one overseas driver - full list below.
"This is something that Kelly Racing has been working on for over 12 months with our two partners in the project, WTFN and The Media Mix," said Rick Kelly.
"It's very tough for youngsters to break in and not many teams are able to give young drivers the opportunity that both Todd and I had when we came into the sport.
"Shannons Supercar Showdown is a fantastic platform for us to offer this opportunity to young guys and girls from Australia and around the world."
The winning contestant will join Denyer in the Shannons-Mars Racing Holden Commodore - a fifth entry from Kelly Racing - for the Bathurst classic in October.
Kelly Racing has employed former Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport Team Manager Dean Orr to co-ordinate its wildcard entry for the race.
The car Denyer and the lucky winner will drive is the same one driven to victory earlier this year in New Zealand by Rick Kelly at the ITM400 Hamilton.
Kelly Racing co-owner Todd Kelly knows all about getting an opportunity as a young driver and says the added workload won't distract from the team's existing four cars and their chances at Bathurst.
"I remember getting the chance to go and join the Holden Racing Team when I was 17-years old, and that was a long process of getting a test day and then eventually getting signed full-time," he says.
"But one of these young drivers is going to get to drive at Bathurst in just a few months, so what this group has in front of them is a massive opportunity.
"We already have a lot of extra guys at Bathurst that can assist in running a fifth car there, but certainly not enough to do it properly.
"So we were very lucky that Dean Orr became available and was keen to join us and have a crack at this program.
"That means that the fifth car can be run at the level that we want it to be run and is a professional and organised entry for Bathurst. It also means that it will not impact on the running of our four full-time cars both at the workshop and at the track at Bathurst."
THE DRIVERS
AMBER ANDERSON (26)
Amber Anderson is the regular leader of the pack in V8 Supercars Championship as the driver of the series Safety Car. She has degrees in Commerce and Law and is a qualified pilot and SCUBA diver. Has competed in Fujitsu V8 Supercars Development Series previously.
ANDREW JORDAN (21)
All the way from Britain, Andrew Jordan adds international flavour. A three-time race winner in the British Touring Car Championship. Former rally cross and Renault Clio Cup driver who has highlighted V8 Supercars as the next step in his career.
BEN SMALL (23)
Ben Small comes out of retirement for one last shot at a V8 Supercars career. After a decorated career in karting and Formula Ford he stepped away from racing several seasons ago to be a snowboard instructor in Colorado, USA. His father Les and older brother James are both experienced racing engineers.
CAMERON WATERS (16)
From Mildura, Victoria - also the hometown of Todd and Rick Kelly - Cameron Waters has been touted as one of the next big things in Australian motorsport. While only 16 and still in high school, he currently leads the Australian Formula Ford Championship and has already tested a V8 Supercar.
DAVID SERA (22)
One of the most successful drivers in Australian karting history, David Sera has dominated karting events in Europe, Australia, the Middle East and the United States for the last decade, having starting racing at the tender age of seven. An 11-time Australian karting champion, has earned the nickname 'Deadly' as a result of his domination of the sport.
HAYLEY SWANSON (23)
Some time race driver, some time model, Hayley Swanson has the same combination of speed and glamour that has made Danica Patrick a household name in the United States. Having raced in production cars and Aussie Racing Cars she now turns her attention to the big time with a shot at V8 Supercars.
NICK CASSIDY (16)
Following in the legendary footsteps of New Zealand racing greats such as Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon and Scott Dixon, Nick Cassidy is flying the Kiwi flag. A race winner in Formula Ford, Toyota Racing Series and even Speedway competition in his homeland, Cassidy has set his sights on following countrymen Greg Murphy and Shane van Gisbergen into V8 Supercars.
NICK FOSTER (19)
The Queenslander eats and sleeps motorsport, working for a race team when not racing himself in the Australian Formula Ford Championship. Nick Foster is a multiple race winner in Formula Ford and karting and also studies Civil Engineering at university.
SAMANTHA REID (24)
Samantha Reid started racing karts in her hometown of Adelaide as an eight year old and since then has tried her hand at Formula Ford, Formula 3 and was a part of an all-female factory Holden production car team that raced in the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2007. Studied Mechatronic Engineering at university and is one of the youngest fully qualified driver trainers in Australia.
SHAE DAVIES (21)
When he is not on the race track Shae Davies can be found working on heavy machinery such as cranes, drill rigs and excavators in his home state of Queensland. Another contestant from the highly competitive Australian Formula Ford Championship with a background in karting.
