Pye, who secured Pole Position for all three races, has now claimed an impressive 11 wins and has taken the lead of the Championship, sitting 4 points ahead of Scott Malvern.

With his opponents equally as hungry for a place on the podium, the 20-year-old admits it was a crusade to the finishing line on the demanding Brands Hatch track.

“After qualifying I was confident that a hat trick was possible but Brands Hatch can spring a few surprises so, as usual, I wasn’t complacent,” admitted Pye.

“My team mates Josh Hill and Emil Bernstorff, along with Antti Buri, were determined and, yet again, they were ready to pounce on me if I made the slightest mistake.”

With only 5 races remaining in the Championship, Pye is confident he can maintain his stamina for what’s left of the series.

Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia Managing Director Roland Dane believes the talented driver is well on his way breaking the 2007 record of most wins in a season.

“Scotty has been extremely consistent in the series and we are all very proud of him. He is just three victories away from breaking the record of most wins in a season, which is a huge achievement,” stated Dane.

“He is a tremendously fierce competitor and has put himself in an excellent position for the rest of the season. If he continues his efforts, he will be unstoppable.”

After back to back weekends of action packed excitement, Pye is eager to hit the track for rounds 21, 22 and 23 at the Donington Park circuit on September 18 and 19.

The team, made up of TeamVodafone staff and affiliates, spent a week at sea for the historic Hamilton Island races during what has been one of the biggest competition breaks in V8 Supercar history.

Although the teams boat ‘Jessandra’ was the smallest to enter the competition, it proved that size doesn’t matter when it breezed across the finishing line in an impressive fourth position.

Collaboration was a significant factor for the team of five, who hit the deck for hours each day to ultimately complete seven races, ranging anywhere from 16-40km in length.

The team was certainly the brightest of the bunch, sporting matching pink Hawaiian shirts to compliment the giant pink ‘Hogstar’ head printed on the boat’s sail.

Minus the bright colours, TeamVodafone’s Commercial Operations Manager Peter Jamieson said Jessandra was a real eye-catcher and received a number of comments on her good looks.

“The typical response was how pretty the boat looked. I think the exact words were “stunning”. Although we didn’t win on the water, we certainly were best presented on the dock.”

“Overall, we learnt a great deal about the boat and discovered that battling tides of 3-4 knots, in some instances, played a critical factor in race success. In some locations, we had to be on the right side of the tide, otherwise we would go backwards.

“We found out a lot about sailing Jessandra in a range of different conditions and, I believe, if the regatta was windier, we might have seen a few podiums as a result. Our teamwork was fantastic and there were no brawls on board,” he laughed.

Although barely rid of their sea legs, preparation is underway for TeamVodafone, who are eager to recommence the Championship for the much anticipated endurance races following positive results from the team and both cars.

The countdown commences to the opening of the L&H 500 at Phillip Island to be held on the 10-12 September. For breaking news and events on TeamVodafone, be sure to visit the team’s official website, Twitter and Facebook.

The accomplished 20-year-old claimed the chequered flag in round 16 and 17 of the Championship and, with dropped scores taken into account, is now the series leader.

Despite being confronted with a wet track on opening day, Scotty drew on his fierce driving skills to see off a determined Daniel Cammish. There was no shortage of on-track battles for the driver who, in race 17, found himself wheel-to-wheel with Finnish driver Antti Buri.

Scotty, who is fast becoming the series favourite, believes his double win to be among the most memorable of his entire career.

“I’ll always remember those wins. Both races were so close but incredibly clean as well – we didn’t touch once and Antti and Daniel were very fair,” said Pye.

“It’s been an unbelievable weekend and considering dropped scores, I am now leading the championship.”

With an impressive 9 wins from his 17 starts, Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia Managing Director Roland Dane believes Scotty continues to impress everyone around him.

“Scotty just keeps delivering both on and off the track. He has worked hard to get to where he is today and this is evident through his continual success,” said Dane.

“He is driving brilliantly and we are very proud of the job he is doing in the UK. He’s an extremely promising young driver and has a great attitude to go with his top quality talent.”

Catch Scotty in action again at Brands Hatch next weekend in a prestigious support slot alongside the DTM German touring cars and the F3 Euro Series. Qualifying is scheduled for Friday (3 Sep), with rounds 18 and 19 on Saturday and the 20th race of the 2010 series on Sunday.

In what has been one of the most anticipated pairings in V8 Supercar history, former Holden team-mates Lowndes and Skaife have reunited after a decade for this year’s endurance races.

It was all smiles for the pair as they rehearsed driver changes and became acquainted with their brand new TeamVodafone Holden Commodore VE II, which made its official debut today after a 20 lap shakedown yesterday.

As veterans to the race, both Lowndes and semi-retired Skaife are eager to return to the track together for what will be Race 17 of the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

“Craig and I have driven a lot over the years and it’s no surprise the seating and everything else is relatively easy to set-up,” Skaife said.

“We like our cars the same so were pretty happy about our pairing.”

Teammate Craig Lowndes was equally pleased about being partnered with Skaife and believes their new car will be very promising.

“The car is very close to what we would usually have it anyway. Lucky enough we are around the same height and weight, so it’s actually worked out really well.”

“Balance wise, the car is great and it’s a new car, which is a plus. Were really confident going into the race, it’s just a matter of uncertainties in regards to the weather at Phillip Island,” he explained.

Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes have won three consecutive Bathurst endurance races together from 2006-2008 but the duo will split due to new rules concerning co-drivers.

In what will be a never before seen partnering, Whincup will team-up with Fujitsu Series Leader Steve Owen for the long distance events.

Both drivers are feeling confident following a productive day and were extremely pleased with their car set-up and capabilities as team-mates.

Whincup said it was “so far, so good” and believes the team’s efficiency was at its peak today.

“The car hasn’t been changed from the way I normally drive it. Steve’s just jumped in and thinks it’s all comfy, which is great.”

“The car is feeling really good. Once we put some better tyres on, I think the car will feel as good as it ever has. Tyres are a really big part, so we had to ration them today,” Whincup stated.

Owen agreed with his team-mate and said, “The team and car are both extremely good and, as Jamie said, I jumped in and was really comfortable, which is a really big thing.”

“Jamie and I spent a bit of time together before today to make sure we were both on the same page. You have to be confident going into the race, otherwise there’s no point in turning up.”

The L&H 500 Phillip Island will kick off on the 10-12 of September. For breaking news and events on TeamVodafone, be sure to visit the team’s official website, Twitter and Facebook.

Pye started the race from pole position and, despite a wild battle with championship rival Scott Malvern, persevered to take the chequered flag by 2.5 seconds.

Race 14 of the Championship didn’t prove to be quite as lucrative with Pye pushed back into fourth position over the opening laps and denied the opportunity to defend due to a safety car incident.

However, he was able to gain lost ground in Race 15 of the Silverstone triple header and, although becoming air-borne after knocking tyres with Malvern, finished in second place to his team-mate Josh Hill.

“I am on target to gain the record number of wins in one season and I am pushing hard to bring the title home for Triple Eight,” Pye stated.

“I would have preferred to win all three races this weekend of course but as a racing driver I have to say that this weekend was a lot of fun and we’ve earned a whole bag of points,” he continued.

Following the weekends Rounds, the 20-year-old from Mount Gambier is currently placed second in the Championship on 332 points, just 38 points away from the lead.

Stepping onto the international scene only this year, the talented youngster has proven himself to be a dominant force in the Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain with an impressive seven victories to his name to date.

Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia Managing Director Roland Dane added, “We’re really pleased and impressed with the job that Scotty’s doing in the UK right now as well as being very proud of the recognition by the BRDC of his success this season by making him a part of their Rising Stars programme over there.”

Pye will be back in action with Triple Eight support in Round 16 and 17 at the Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk, England on August 29-30, 2010.

Intercad, the specialist 3D computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology distributor, has joined forces with Triple Eight Race Engineering and Racetech Steel to champion the Electric Superbike Project, a community-based initiative which brings together budding and experienced designers, engineers and manufacturers to create and build a completely unique motorbike.

Road tested by racing great and Triple Eight Race Engineering driver Craig Lowndes, the winning design will be auctioned off to the highest bidder with all proceeds going to Red Dust Role Models, a non-profit organisation seeking to improve the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged youth living in remote communities.

Max Piper, CEO, Intercad, says the Electric Superbike Project is a chance for the Australian and New Zealand design, engineering and manufacturing communities to come together and create something for a worthy cause.

“It’s not often people have the opportunity to step outside their usual realm of expertise and be part of a larger project which challenges and extends their skills,” he says. “The Electric Superbike initiative is being managed by experienced Intercad engineers to ensure the bike is structurally sound, road tested and can be registered. The end result will actually be something tangible to which those involved can attach their names.”

Lowndes says the project is a great opportunity for designers and engineers in Australia and New Zealand.

“When I heard about the concept of the Electric Superbike I was definitely excited,” he said. “This is the bike of the future and I’m really interested to ride the winning design. It’s certainly going to be something different and it will be great to see the end result of a creation that could potentially change the future of motorcycles.”

Entries are now open, with part one of the design phase, the frame design, kicking off the project. Entrants can submit a design in SolidWorks for any of the parts of the motorcycle – the frame, mechanics, electronics and batteries, fairing and styling, and accessories – or a complete design. To ensure safety in design, contestants are required to download a file with the structural parameters to create their own design.

The build phase will follow, then testing and, finally, the auction. At the end of each phase, a review team comprising Ian Drapier, Drawing Office Manager, Triple Eight Race Engineering; Julian Spencer, Product Manager, Intercad; and Rodney O’Conner, Application Engineer, Intercad, will judge the entries, with winners chosen on the creativity, build-ability, safety and weight of their designs.

A blog (www.theelectricsuperbike.com.au) will chart the progress of the design from start to finish, offering the opportunity for the wider community to provide comment and suggestions as the motorbike evolves.

John van Groningen, CEO, Red Dust Role Models, believes in all types of positive role models and initiatives and says the company is both proud and privileged to be involved in this innovative project.

“Red Dust uses positive role models to encourage healthy life decisions and our association with Craig Lowndes gives us a high profile role model who is passionate about his profession as well as helping the disadvantaged youth with whom Red Dust works,” he says. “We are also excited about the potential positive environmental implications of the Electric Superbike.”

“TeamVodafone has been involved with Red Dust Role Models for the last three to four years,” says Lowndes. “What they stand for and what they do for the indigenous community is just incredible, and I couldn’t be happier the proceeds will be going to them.”

Triple Eight Race Engineering’s Drapier says the team is passionate about the pursuit of excellence in the design and manufacture of its race cars and Intercad plays a huge role in helping us fulfill these ambitions.

“There are also many of us here that share a passion for motorcycling, so we are genuinely excited to be part of a project that shares this with the best of what the Australian and New Zealand design and manufacturing communities have to offer. The fact that this project has a social conscience and will ultimately benefit the Red Dust Role Model initiative makes it all the more worthwhile.”

Interested parties should go to www.theelectricsuperbike.com.au for more information and instructions on how to enter.

In what is currently one of the biggest competition breaks in V8 Supercar history, the Team is keeping their adrenalin levels afloat by taking part from 21-28 August.

The Team’s France borne boat named ‘Jessandra’, after Team Principal Roland Dane’s two daughters, will make her debut at the regatta against 19 entrants in the IRC Grand Prix.

In what is set to be a compelling regatta, 9.5 metre Jessandra will be the smallest boat to contest in the class and will face yachts up to three times her length.

Dane, who will take the role of Skipper, said, “We will make up for the size of the boat with ego. The competition is more for fun than anything. Sailing has been a part of my life since I could walk and I’m absolutely passionate about it. “

“I entered the event because I’ve sailed for years but never at this level. I wanted to move away from the cruising aspect for the time being and try my hand at racing.

“We’re on a rather large break at the moment from the V8 Supercar Championship Series and this is our chance to try something different,” he explained.

With their RQ888 sail hoisted high, the five man squad aim to take their teamwork skills from the track to the competition but admit there are a number of factors which may challenge them on the water.

TeamVodafone’s Commercial Operations Manager and Foredeck Peter Jamieson said, “The Crew have been sailing most of their lives, I started when I was eight years old. But our secret weapon is having Michael Spies on board who is a seasoned ocean racer.  He has won the Sydney to Hobart outright and within divisions, and is an integral part of the Volvo 70, Ichi Ban.”

“We definitely have a strong competitive mentality. I have won the sports boat category before, but being the smallest boat in the Grand Prix class, what we lack in size, we are making up with enthusiasm.

“Jessandra is brand new and has never been raced, so we are starting from scratch in regards to boat performance. Heading into the regatta, we have confidence that we have prepared the boat as best we can in the short time frame, but there are still many unknowns, which ideally you don’t want to test in a racing situation.

“The best part of the day will probably be a warm shower! My end of the boat is quite wet as it takes plenty of water over the bow, and being on the starting line with much bigger boats will be interesting too,” he stated.

The historical event will take place just weeks before the much anticipated Endurance Races starting with the L&H 500 Phillip Island to be held on the 10-12 September.

In a survey of almost 2000 members of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sports (CAMS), an overwhelming 72% believe driver education is necessary in schools, while 82% trust it will reduce the road toll.

Defending Champion Whincup has been an avid spokesperson for road safety and believes the issue should be embedded from a young age.

“I’m a big believer that there needs to be more education on driving standards and behaviour, together with a better understanding that drivers are, in fact, behind the wheel of a lethal weapon,” Whincup admitted.

“In my opinion, making drivers better drivers is the key to fewer accidents, so there’s no denying that driver education will reduce the road toll. Young drivers need to be taught about their vehicles, alcohol consumption and the issues of distraction.

“They need to realize they hold their own lives and the lives of other in their hands and be shown the consequences of what can happen in an unfortunate situation, and how it can affect them and their family and friends.

“We are the best people to look to for an example of why we race on a race-track and not on a public road. When racing on the track, we’ve got a huge safety net with paramedics, ambulances and flag marshals on stand-by along with our roll cages and specially made race-suits,” he continued.

With the road toll reaching more than 700 this year, the #1 driver warns the initiative needs to be implemented correctly to avoid repercussions.

“The in-school instructors need to be certified and the message to young people needs to be consistent. The one thing you don’t want to do is confuse them,” Whincup stated.

Only 2% of Australian motor enthusiasts say a standardised young driver educated program should not be enforced in schools whilst one if four think it should be optional.

CAMS is requesting for the Commonwealth to introduce and fund the Ignition Program for all secondary schools in order to promote a generational attitude shift towards driving.

CAMS President Andrew Papadopoulos said, “This shows the motor sport community believes past attempts to reduce road tolls have not been successful and a focus on widespread Commonwealth funded education is needed.”

“Every week young Australians are killed or injured on the roads. A standardised driver education program specifically designed for pre-learner drivers, such as CAMS Ignition Program, will not only improve driving attitudes and knowledge before they take to the roads, it will save lives,” he concluded.

The four Year 9 students, known as the Nitro Monkeys, are headed to Singapore to represent Australia as part of a collaborative team with the United Arab Emirates after winning the Apprentice Class Champions Award.

The students were given an inspiration boost today with an opportunity to visit the workshop of dominant V8 Supercar team, TeamVodafone.

The teams Technical Director Ludo Lacroix has been an avid patron of the young team and believes the tour was a valuable learning experience.

“As I’m advising the team on research, I saw the tour through the garage as an excellent opportunity to show them what we do and how we do it,” Lacroix stated.

“The young team is showing an excellent level of talent and things are looking promising for the World Championships.

“All they have to do is stay focused for every step of the way. If they can do that, I’m certain they will succeed,” he continued.

The Re-Engineering Australia Foundation (REA) initiative inspires students to learn about the principals of engineering in a competitive and exciting way through the design and manufacture of miniature
Formula 1 cars.

The Pine Rivers State High School students have triumphed in a number of divisions, including Best Engineered Design and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation Fastest Car.

The schools senior team, Red Hawk Racing, has also shown excellent results, winning the runners up prize for the Professional Class Senior Champions category and Best Team Marketing.

The challenge has over 20 countries competing, including Europe, North and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia.

It was a bittersweet end to Race 15 of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, with the sweet being Jamie Whincup’s first placing from pole position, whilst team-mate Craig Lowndes suffered a lap one incident that robbed him ten laps and any chance of a solid championship point’s accumulation.

To add insult to injury he was forced to do a drive through penalty for a pit-lane tool infringement that cost him more time.

Both drivers battled it out in Townsville’s moderate heat, with Whincup enjoying good race pace throughout the 72 laps, finishing eight seconds ahead of second place Garth Tander.

“It was probably the best win of the year for me and I couldn’t be happier with the results,” Whincup stated.

“We nailed the car’s set-up and I was working hard. At the end of the day, we had pace and I just wanted to show the crowd what TeamVodafone is all about.

“It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow. We have a few more changes to do to the car, so it could be a totally different story,” he continued.

After using four sets of his green tyres in today’s qualifier, Lowndes was forced to run shootout on used tyres.

The #888 driver suffered a delay after an untimely lock-up at Turn 11, leaving him in tenth spot.

Although Lowndes was thwarted by today’s race, he is confident his car’s set-up will give him a turn-around result for tomorrow.

“It was a disappointing day. We had a really good car for qualifying and in shootout we got three-quarters of the lap together but I made a mistake at Turn 11,” Lowndes admitted.

“I got a reasonable start to the race but then I hit the wall in the first lap, which damaged the front and rear-end of the car.

“We didn’t have the best speed but we gained enough in the finish 26th and gain some points. Despite that, I’m feeling confident for tomorrow.” he said.

Tomorrow’s on-track V8 Supercar action starts with qualifying at 11:00am followed by Race 16 at 1:35pm.

Top Ten V8 Supercar Championship Series Race 15 Results – Sucrogen Townsville 400

1. Jamie Whincup, 150pts
2. Garth Tander, 138pts
3. Mark Winterbottom, 129pts
4. Lee Holdsworth, 120pts
5. James Courtney, 111pts
6. Russell Ingall, 102pts
7. Jason Richards, 96pts
8. Shane Van Gisbergen, 90pts
9. Steve Richards, 84pts
10.Paul Dumbrell, 78pts

Top Ten V8 Supercar Championship Standings – After Race 15 of 26

1. James Courtney, 1809pts
2. Jamie Whincup, 1791pts
3. Shane Van Gisbergen, 1502pts
4. Craig Lowndes, 1479pts
5. Mark Winterbottom, 1473pts
6. Garth Tander, 1380pts
7. Lee Holdsworth, 1338pts
8. Rick Kelly, 1286pts
9. Michael Caruso, 1187pts
10.Steven Johnson, 1112pts