FOR Scott Pye, the equation is simple. To pinch an infamous Shane van Gisbergen phrase, it’s all about doing his talking on the track.
For months, Pye has been rumoured to be at risk of losing his seat at Team 18 next year.
Last week, David Reynolds emerged as the new frontrunner to replace Pye in 2024, alongside #18 steerer Mark Winterbottom who is already under contract – although team owner Charlie Schwerkolt insists no decision has been made.
Pye has generally matched up evenly with ‘Frosty’ in their three and a half seasons as teammates but the squad has struggled to find a full-time sponsor for the #20 entry.
In his 11th season as a main game regular, Pye is determined to continue showing that he belongs in the Repco Supercars Championship.
“I have always tried to do the best job I can on track and that stuff kind of takes care of itself,” he told V8 Sleuth.
“The challenge I guess we have seen this year is it is probably more an engineer’s car than we have ever seen before, and all you can do is try to maximise the package you have got.
“Frosty and I every weekend are very close so I think that we’re getting the most out of what we have got and we need to just keeping trying to do that.
“In particular for me, you get the results on track and then of course the stuff off track takes care of itself.
“I’ve been fairly happy with how my performance has gone and it should put me in a somewhat good position I would think.”
The former Triple Eight prodigy in fact believes he’s driving better than ever.
“Every year you gain experience and we just saw it with Frosty getting the win in Darwin – he is 42 and doing an amazing job,” said Pye.
“I’m 33, so I have got a long way to go and I feel like I’m the best I have ever been in the car.
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“This sport is always about car performance. It’s difficult because without that it’s hard to show sometimes what you’re capable of and we see that with Erebus this year, those guys have gone from where they were last year to now one and two in the championship.
“Drivers don’t just learn how to drive overnight. When you have a good package it makes your job a lot easier and I think everyone is aware of that.
“It’s just about trying to be consistent and make sure it’s very clear you’re maximising what you have got and doing the best job you can.
“I have always enjoyed working with a team and trying to get the most out of them and I have been at this team for a while now so I have got some really fantastic relationships.
“I’m enjoying myself here and I think I’m driving well because of it.”
With Team 18 on the up after a rebuild in the first half of 2022, Pye is enjoying a less interrupted run than he experienced in the latter years of the Gen2 era.
“I think we’re in a pretty good spot now; especially with the new car, reliability has not been an issue,” he said.
“We’re just trying to find a little bit more speed.
“But from my perspective, I think the people that need to know, know how motorsport works, and I think there’s good examples up and down pitlane of people that have found performance from one year to the next and it’s very clear that they haven’t just learnt how to drive.
“Our field is full of some very good drivers and I think the people that need to know, know who they are.”
A wild silly season looms, with Triple Eight set to have a vacancy given van Gisbergen’s desire to make an end-of-year switch to NASCAR.
Grove Racing is among other teams which could have a seat available, if Reynolds does join Team 18.
Walkinshaw Andretti United meanwhile appears set to replace Nick Percat with either Ryan Wood or Fabian Coulthard.
