» Supercars: Pye confirmed at Team 18 for 2020

Scott Pye will race for the Charlie Schwerkolt-owned Team 18 squad as it expands to a two-car operation for the 2020 Supercars Championship season.

The 29-year-old will be teammate to incumbent driver Mark Winterbottom, with the duo driving a pair of Triple Eight Race Engineering-built Holden ZB Commodores.

Pye called time on his three-year stint with Walkinshaw Andretti United yesterday, having claimed one race win at Albert Park in 2018 and back-to-back second place finishes at the Bathurst 1000 in 2017-18.

“I am really excited to be joining Team 18 in 2020, they’re a young team but at the same time they have already had a taste of success, and it’s refreshing to see what they have been able to achieve so far,” Pye said of his appointment.

“I was immediately excited by the opportunity and I could see it would be a good fit for me.

“I am looking forward to working alongside [owner] Charlie [Schwerkolt], Mark and the rest of the team, to help them grow and move us to the front of the grid.

“Charlie’s intentions are very clear, and he is extremely motivated, so it will be great to be part of the team working together for one goal.”

Mark Winterbottom, Team 18 Holden ZB Commodore - 2019 Supercars Gold Coast 600

After three seasons as a single-car operation, Team 18 will expand to a two-car effort in 2020.

With his driver pairing now confirmed, Schwerkolt was optimistic that his squad – which has achieved one pole position but is yet to claim a podium finish in three seasons – could move further up the grid.

“It’s a massive step to expand Team 18 to a two car operation next year and I think Scott is the right person to get the job done for all our partners and crew at Team 18,” he said.

“Scott’s ability on-track is on the way up in the prime of his career and I’m confident the best is yet to come.

“He will make a great teammate for Frosty and we’re really excited to have him join the team in 2020 and beyond.”

2020 Australian Supercars Championship – Predicted Entry List
Team	Drivers
DJR Team Penske	Fabian Coulthard	Scott McLaughlin
Triple Eight Race Engineering	Jamie Whincup	Shane van Gisbergen
Erebus Motorsport	David Reynolds	Anton de Pasquale
Tickford Racing	Cameron Waters	Lee Holdsworth*
Tickford Racing	Jack Le Brocq*
23Red Racing (Tickford Racing)	Will Davison
Brad Jones Racing	Nick Percat	TBA
Brad Jones Racing	Jack Smith*
Tim Blanchard Racing (BJR)	Macauley Jones
Kelly Racing	Rick Kelly	Andre Heimgartner
Team 18	Mark Winterbottom	Scott Pye
Matt Stone Racing	Garry Jacobson*	TBA
TEKNO / One World	James Courtney	TBA
Walkinshaw Andretti United	Chaz Mostert*	TBA