Scott Pye will make his full-time debut this year in this year’s V8 Supercars championship after signing for Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport.
The 23-year-old who last year finished second in the Dunlop (Development) Series under the Triple Eight Racing banner in only his first season, follows championship winner Scott McLaughlin in graduating up the V8 Supercars ladder, after McLaughlin signed to drive for Garry Rogers Motorsport at the end of last year.
Pye, who drove with Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport in last year’s endurance races alongside Taz Douglas, is thrilled to be joining the main game and says the 2013 introduction of Car of the Future will give rookies a better chance of competing with more experienced drivers.
“I’m delighted to be driving a Commodore in the main game; the opportunity has come a year sooner than I expected,” he said.
“While I’m predicting a challenging first year against such a high level of competition, this season is a good time to be coming into the championship, because everyone will be learning to drive the cars from scratch.”
Pye’s signing sees the Melbourne-based operation expand to a two-car Holden Commodore team this season, although the driver of the second Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport Commodore has yet to be announced.
The new Commodores will be built and technically supported by Triple Eight Race Engineering, allowing Pye to maintain a relationship with the organisation that has supported much of his career and his mentor Triple Eight team boss Roland Dane.
“Even before I raced in the Dunlop Series, Roland helped me a lot while I was racing overseas,” Pye added.
“Triple Eight are the dominant team in V8s, so it’s reassuring to know that I’ll have their ongoing support.”
After finishing third in the Australian Formula Ford Championship in 2009, Pye moved to Europe winning the 2010 British Formula Ford Championship in his maiden season. He then graduated to the British Formula 3 Championship the following year, finishing tenth with a win at Rockingham and a second place at the season ending Silverstone weekend.
“We’re excited to give an opportunity to a driver with so much natural talent,” team owner Lucas Dumbrell said.
“Scott’s overseas record speaks for itself; he’s proven himself to be one of Australia’s rising stars, and his Dunlop Series campaign last year was outstanding, as were his performances when he drove for us in the endurance races.
“Expanding to two cars is the next step in our team’s development, and strengthening our technical alliance with Triple Eight should help us move closer to the front of the field.”
The announcement was made in Pye’s hometown of Adelaide at the Clipsal 500 start-finish straight, alongside Le Mans 24 Hour winner and fellow South Australian, Vern Schuppan.
“It’s great to have another South Australian in V8 Supercars,” Schuppan said.
“I first met Scott a couple of years ago with (Triple Eight Race Engineering boss) Roland Dane, and he’s a very impressive young man who I’m sure will succeed.”
“He’s proven himself overseas, and this year he’s chosen to compete in the toughest touring car category in the world.
“There’s no better event for Scott to make his debut than the Clipsal 500 in his home state; the whole town of Adelaide really gets behind it.”
