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Local hero Pye braced for 'special' Adelaide comeback

22 Nov 2022
Team 18 to unveil Pye's new livery at Sunday’s open day
2 mins by James Pavey
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South Australian-born Scott Pye is braced for a "really special” comeback of the Adelaide 500.

Next weekend’s VALO Adelaide 500 will be the first event at the parklands since February 2020.

That event was Pye’s first with Team 18 following his move away from Walkinshaw Andretti United.

Pye has since helped push Team 18 closer to the front alongside veteran teammate Mark Winterbottom.

The 32-year-old is one of four South Aussie natives on the grid along with Tim Slade, Nick Percat and Todd Hazelwood.

Pye’s Adelaide return will come with a new livery, which will be revealed at Team 18’s open day.

Team 18 will open the doors of its Mount Waverley base to fans and members on Sunday.

Pye is one of four Adelaide locals

There, Pye will take the covers off the new livery he will carry at the season finale.

The December 1-4 event has been a long time coming for Pye, who made his full-time debut in Adelaide in 2013.

Three years later, Pye took a shock pole position for DJR Team Penske.

“Heading back to the Adelaide 500 for the final round is going to be really special,” he said.

"The fans have made the return of the ‘500 possible.

“As a proud South Aussie it’s going to be incredible to get back to racing on the streets of our capital city.

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“Hopefully we can farewell the Red Lion on a high.”

Pye and Winterbottom will both be in attendance on Sunday to meet and greet with the public.

Flashback: Pye scores surprise hometown pole

Team 18’s Gen3 Chevrolet Camaro builds will also be on display, as well as the 2010 championship-winning Ford Falcon.

That car is owned by team owner Charlie Schwerkolt.

Schwerkolt recently told Supercars.com of his excitement for Gen3, considering Team 18 is doing much of its own work.

Team 18 previously took ownership of turnkey Triple Eight Commodores.

The Adelaide event will be Holden’s last round, and Pye was keen to show off the new look to team fans on Sunday.

“I’m looking forward to unveiling my colours for the final round in Adelaide in front of the fans here at the Team 18 Open Day on Sunday,” he said.

“We’ve never opened the place up to the public like this.

“It’s going to be a great day to check out what goes on behind the scenes at the race team."

The 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will conclude on the Adelaide streets on December 1-4.

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