Series organizers in Australia will open their doors for new manufacturers into the motorsport as the new ‘Car of the Future’ (CoF) regulations are implemented in 2012. Taking the advantage of this opportunity is Mercedes-Benz as it announces a race-ready AMG C63 that is said to form the basis for a Mercedes V8 Supercar.

Set to be unveiled next week at the Australian round of the Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, the Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 will chauffer the VIPs and AMG customers on the track. It is believed that both Mercedes-Benz and BMW are on their heels to compete in the future V8 Supercar rounds. The new regulations will enable the Bavarian manufacturer to use such engines as its DTM racer’s 4.0-litre DOHC V8.

“At the end of the day the sort of racing — whether it’s Formula One, DTM (German Touring Car), rallying or V8 Supercars — is about showcasing the brand,” said Mercedes-Benz Australia Senior Manager of Corporate Communications, David McCarthy. “There are a lot of people watching V8 Supercars these days and a lot of those people are starting to buy increasingly expensive HSVs and FPVs.”

The new engine rules would also allow other manufacturers with similar V8 engines to consider V8 Supercar racing. These include the Audi and BMW. Meanwhile, the likes of Honda, Hyundai, Lexus, Nissan and Toyota, brands that currently employ similar-sized DOHC, 24-valve V8 engines in Super GT are also considering entries in the championship.