Pye better for Courtney battles

Silly season player Scott Pye feels he has done his reputation no harm in three years as teammate to 2010 series champion James Courtney.

After three years, Pye and Courtney’s time together at Walkinshaw Andretti United will come to a close at the end of the season, the latter having announced he will depart the Holden squad.

Pye’s sixth place last time out at Pukekohe has pulled him within 150 points of Courtney to have a real chance of taking a cleansweep of the intra-team bragging rights.

Pye finished 12th in the 2017 standings to Courtney’s 21st, and seventh compared to 14th last year.

The pair are 14th and 16th this year, in Courtney’s favour, heading into the PIRTEK Enduro Cup.

While the numbers paint a positive picture, Pye was quick to point out the help his teammate has been to him.

“Coming here, it was important for me to go up against one of the best guys in the category,” Pye told Supercars.com.

“It has probably not done me any harm across the last two years because James is certainly seen as one of the better drivers in the championship.

“I’ve enjoyed being teammates with James and I have certainly learnt a lot as well.

“I knew that coming in, if there was an opportunity to have an experienced teammate, it’s your job as well to learn from them.

“That’s how I can ensure that I am better at the end of the day.”

Pye, 29, is in the final season of the three-year deal he joined WAU on; the one-time race winner has been linked to a number of teams for 2020.

“I have a few offers which we’re going through at the moment and trying to finalise,” he said.

“It’s not obviously something you want to rush.

“You want to make sure that you do your due diligence and make the best decision but I’m really a loyal person and strong on relationships so all of that comes into account.

“I’d like to have something sorted sooner rather than later but certainly not rushing into anything at the moment.”

Pye and co-driver Warren Luff head to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 on October 10-13 having taken second-place finishes in both the 2017 and ‘18 Great Races.