Scott Pye not chasing redemption after bruising Bend
Will Brown/Pye Ford among the Bathurst favourites
Track action commences in Bathurst on Thursday
Scott Pye isn’t looking in the rearview mirror following a tough Bend outing, in which the Triple Eight co-driver copped two penalties.
The Brown/Pye Red Bull Ampol Mustang is among the favourites for this weekend’s Repco Bathurst 1000, in what bodes to be a wide-open race.
The form guide was muddied somewhat at a dramatic AirTouch 500 at The Bend, which was punctuated by incidents for front-runners and rainfall.
Among the drivers struck down was Pye, who copped dual 15-second penalties after incidents with James Courtney and Reuben Goodall. The sister Broc Feeney/Nick Percat car, meanwhile, was wiped out of contention.
After getting their lap back, Pye and Brown managed to keep the #888 Red Bull Ampol Ford in the hunt, to the point where they arguably threw away a podium.
When asked by Supercars.com if there was redemption on the menu at the Mountain, Pye replied: “Not really redemption, I don't think.
“[It was] just one of those days, just tough conditions for everyone.
“Arguably I probably lost less time with penalties than everyone did spinning out, because we didn't make any mistakes throughout the day, just copped those two penalties.
“Car was fast, the team did a mega job, and I think Will was 12th after serving the penalties. So I think that just goes to show what everyone's day was really like.”
Pye, who is making his 15th consecutive Bathurst start, is chasing his first win in the Great Race, having stood on the podium in 2017, 2018 and 2024. He’s also had his fair share of heartbreak, but despite the speed in the #888 and the favouritism that comes with it, he isn’t counting his chickens.
Pye cited Scott Sinclair's Supercars.com preview, which revealed how 12 of the last 25 Bathurst winners weren't the fastest car, as proof as to why it's such a hard race to pick.
“We're very fortunate to have a fast car. But it's funny, last year Bathurst had a fast car too, but it's just no guarantee,” the 2024 Sandown 500 winner continued.
“It’s actually not that common that you come here and your fastest car means you're going to win the race. You've just gotta take every lap as it comes.
“But I think there's so many heartbreak stories that there's probably a story that can be made for everyone to have a redemption story here at Bathurst, but there's just no guarantees and we're gonna just try and do a good job.”
Track action at Mount Panorama commences on Thursday with two practice sessions.
