V8 Supercars icon Dick Johnson has boldly predicted that Nissan or Mercedes-Benz could be the ones to cause an upset in Sunday’s Bathurst 1000.

The two manufacturers entered the series last year, and had a combined seven cars contend the 2013 Great Race.

Only one of those finished inside the top 15 – Erebus Motorsport’s Lee Holdsworth and Craig Baird in a Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.

While they’ve made considerable improvements in their second season, only once this year have either won a race – again, via Holdsworth at Winton.

Of the new marques, Volvo has been rated by many – including racing legend Jim Richards – as the one to watch around Mount Panorama.

But Holden is the clear favourite to take the title for a record 30th time on Sunday after their strong showing at Sandown last month.

Factory-backed outfits Red Bull Racing and Holden Racing Team locked out the top four positions in the traditional Bathurst warm-up race, with championship leader Jamie Whincup winning from pole position.

Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) youngster Scott Pye was the best of the Fords in fifth, with Ford Performance Racing’s Chaz Mostert seventh and defending Bathurst champion Mark Winterbottom 10th.

Asked whether he believed Holden’s dominance would continue this weekend, especially given Winterbottom’s recent slump in form, Johnson pointed elsewhere.

“They’re the known commodities,” he told AAP.

“I think the dark horses really will be the bloody Nissans and the Benzs, to be quite honest.

“They’ve got a turn of speed and straight-line speed here means an awful lot.

“I think you’ll find that they’ll have a fair bit of pace up and down the hill, which also means a lot. And their qualifying speeds at Sandown were pretty impressive.

“Their achilles heel will be either fuel economy or how they position themselves as far as strategy goes.”

Sunday’s big race will be Johnson’s last at Bathurst under the DJR banner before their takeover by American motorsport giant Team Penske for 2015.

But the 69-year-old refuses to get sentimental about it.

“There’s one thing about life: you’ve got to accept change,” he said.

“And if you don’t accept change, you’re going to die on the vine.

“I think we’ve been close to dying on the vine a few times.

“But quite frankly, we’re in a situation now where we’re going to be back up the front.”

Penske president Tim Cindric and incoming DJR Team Penske team manager Jeff Swartwout have both flown from the US to Bathurst for the race.