Australian retailer Dick Smith has been announced as the new naming rights sponsor for the Sandown 500 in September.

The event, which marks the return of the 500km endurance race to its traditional home at Sandown, will be called the Dick Smith Sandown 500.

"Dick Smith has been a long time supporter of Australian motorsport and coming on board for a traditional event strengthens the relationship between Dick Smith and V8 Supercars," said V8 Supercars CEO David Malone.

"It's great to return to the traditional circuit of the Australian Touring Cars, and what better way then to do it with a big name Australian company.

"The Dick Smith Sandown 500 will be a weekend that pays homage to the Australian Touring Cars, and is the opening of the endurance season and the warm up for Bathurst."

Tyson White, Dick Smith Merchandise Manager, added: "We have chosen to sponsor the Sandown 500 V8 as it's a perfect fit for Dick Smith, it's a truly national sport which is increasingly growing in popularity.

"The Dick Smith Sandown 500 is the first enduro round of 2012 which is set to thrill visitors by providing them with a packed schedule of V8 Supercars and entertainment."

The Dick Smith Sandown 500 will be held on September 14 to 16, in the year the circuit celebrates 50 years since opening.

To celebrate the history of the event, Group A and C touring cars and the Touring Car Masters series will join Formula Ford as the support categories for V8 Supercars.