Pye: 300th race 'surreal' achievement
Local hero Scott Pye has labelled his looming 300th race start a “surreal” achievement.
Pye will this weekend become the 29th driver to record 300 ATCC/Supercars race starts.
The Team 18 driver will bring up the milestone in Sunday’s first race at the OTR SuperSprint.
Fittingly, South Australian local Pye celebrates the occasion on home soil.
Pye has a solo win to his name, but has done some of his best work in long-distance races.
A product of Triple Eight, Pye made his Supercars debut in the 2012 enduros for Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport.
Pye suits up at Sandown in 2012
Cars troubles masked his speed, with Pye sharing a Commodore with Taz Douglas.
LDM promoted him to a full-time seat for 2013 before he shifted to Dick Johnson Racing in 2014.
His major successes came with Walkinshaw Andretti United, with whom he won at Albert Park in 2018.
Pye scored Bathurst podiums alongside Warren Luff in 2017 and 2018.
The 2018 podium, which he shared with Craig Lowndes, remains one that stands out.
“It was an unreal feeling to line up alongside drivers I’d watched as a kid growing up,” he said of his 2012 debut.
'Standing alongside Lowndesy... really stands out'
“The enduro events have always been key to me.
“Standing alongside Lowndesy on the podium at Bathurst was one that really stands out.
“Time flies. You never wish away a year, but sometimes when you go racing, you want that next event.
“I look back now and it’s a surreal feeling to be in the championship for so long.”
Pye has so far endured a tricky 2022 campaign, having not finished or started six of the last 10 races.
He is contracted to Team 18 for 2023, taking the team into the Gen3 era.
'A few greys maybe popping through soon'
His maiden season with the team included podiums in Darwin, and he has showed glimpses of speed this year.
Pye has six finishes of seventh or higher, highlighted by a fourth at Albert Park.
Some 10 years on from his debut, Pye says his longevity is a product of his ability to extract results.
“A few greys maybe popping through soon,” he joked.
“It’s a huge achievement, one I’m really proud of.
"Longevity in racing; you only sustain that by getting results.
"To still have opportunities to go racing and get race wins is something I’m proud of.”
Cars will hit the track at the OTR SuperSprint on Saturday. Purchase your tickets now.
Scott Pye milestone starts
Debut: Sandown 2012, 24th (Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport)50: Perth 2014, 12th (DJR Team Penske)100: Phillip Island 2015, 13th (DJR Team Penske)150: Ipswich 2017, 16th (Walkinshaw Andretti United)200: Phillip Island 2019, 8th (Walkinshaw Andretti United)250: Mount Panorama 2021, 19th (Team 18)300: Tailem Bend 2022 (Team 18)
ATCC/Supercars round starts (active drivers)*
257: Mark Winterbottom227: James Courtney227: Will Davison221: Lee Holdsworth209: Shane van Gisbergen181: David Reynolds178: Tim Slade131: Scott Pye124: Chaz Mostert123: Nick Percat99: Cam Waters90: Andre Heimgartner72: Jack Le Brocq65: Todd Hazelwood61: Anton De Pasquale, Macauley Jones, Chris Pither42: James Golding37: Jack Smith36: Bryce Fullwood28: Jake Kostecki26: Will Brown22: Brodie Kostecki16: Thomas Randle9: Broc Feeney
ATCC/Supercars race starts (active drivers)*
579: Mark Winterbottom514: James Courtney504: Will Davison496: Lee Holdsworth469: Shane van Gisbergen390: David Reynolds385: Tim Slade298: Scott Pye282: Chaz Mostert274: Nick Percat209: Cam Waters203: Andre Heimgartner156: Jack Le Brocq145: Todd Hazelwood140: Anton De Pasquale132: Macauley Jones122: Chris Pither91: Jack Smith87: Bryce Fullwood77: James Golding69: Jake Kostecki61: Will Brown57: Brodie Kostecki38: Thomas Randle22: Broc Feeney
*Correct to 2022 NTI Townsville 500
