Stepping back to the Carrera Cup next year could do “a world of good” for Scott Pye, believes the 23-year-old’s manager Roland Dane.
After a stellar rookie Dunlop Series campaign last year that netted second in the standings, Pye has endured a baptism of fire in his rookie V8 Supercars Championship season.
Driving for Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport, a customer of Dane’s Triple Eight Race Engineering, Pye heads to this weekend’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 a lowly 27th in the standings.
His season has included several major incidents, caused by a mixture of driver errors and mechanical failures, and has thus far failed to yield a single top 10 finish.
By contrast, Pye’s rivals from last year’s Dunlop Series, Scott McLaughlin and Chaz Mostert, have both starred in their transitions to the main game, already chalking up race wins.
Having backed Pye through the Adelaide-born driver’s British open-wheel sojourn and subsequent return to Australia, Dane remains adamant that his driver has what it takes.
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“He’s no different than Jamie (Whincup),” said Dane of Pye, who briefly tasted Whincup’s Red Bull Holden at a test day earlier this year.
“Jamie wasn’t able to show how good he was until he was given a chance in a decent car.”
Although a return to Triple Eight’s Dunlop Series squad may seem logical should a desirable V8 Supercars Championship ride not present itself, Dane says he’s unlikely to continue fielding a car in the second-tier class beyond the current season.
Moving his charge to the Carrera Cup, however, looms as a distinct possibility.
“The Carrera Cup is definitely something we would look at for Scott,” said Dane.
“I think having a year out (of the V8 Supercars Championship) would probably do him the world of good and Carrera Cup is a decent series to be doing.
“It will also free him up to do enduro drives.”
The Dunlop Series and Carrera Cup Australia are both supporting the V8 Supercars Championship at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
