“I’m not going to pretend otherwise, it’s not been an easy ride.” Steve Dudman tells me, early on a pre-season Sunday morning.
Ever since June 2023, Dudman and his team have been fighting fights well away from the track, but following a year’s hiatus, where he took the difficult but best decision for his One Motorsport squad to sit out the 2024 British Touring Car Championship, he’s now leading from the front foot and ready to take his racing to the next level.
SD: “The hardest part was having to say goodbye to some of the crew.” He continues. “I simply couldn’t keep everyone on, but seeing those girls and guys move on and create successes in a multitude of roles and disciplines has been heartening. We did, however, maintain a nucleus and spent our time productively, developing the two original Honda Civic FK8 chassis’ so that when we start testing, we do so with cars that are primed and ready, not dull and dusty.”
So just what has his engineering team achieved over the last 17 months? And which engine builder has One partnered with?
SD: “We set out to address the car’s two known weaknesses; its aero package, and cooling (engine and brakes). What we hadn’t expected was that at the end of last year, TOCA would announce the scrapping of its hybrid technology and rules in favour of the use of sustainable fuels. It’s clearly a welcome announcement but some aspects of our development were made with the hybrid system in place, meaning that some of our perceived advantages have now been lost. Nevertheless, we’re in no worse a position than everyone else and have already found some key simulation benefits to build on.
“As for our engine partner, we would have liked to have continued with Neil Brown (as planned) but we needed to consider our development budget as a whole, and so with further regulation changes expected to be announced at the end of 2026, we’re putting our faith in TOCA’s engine package.”
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Talk of the crew brings us onto Paul Hartley, the man who was always so diligently in charge of operations within the garage, and who has now returned (from Formula E) to once again lead his team.
SD: “Paul has been an integral part of our journey since the day he first joined. My role is clear, it’s my business and that’s what I’m here for. Paul, on the other hand, is all about the sport, and I’m delighted that when I asked him to return in the position of Sporting Director, he didn’t hesitate in saying yes. He’s not just a crew chief, he’s our heartbeat, the driving force, even our soul. Could I do this without him by my side? Probably: Would I want to? Never.
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As for the drivers, whilst nothing had been announced when we spoke, it was well known that Josh Cook had also rejoined the team that he’d seen his greatest successes with.
SD: “Everybody knows just how determined Josh is to claim the ultimate prize, so whilst we’re catagorised as ‘Independents’, both our sights are firmly set on the overall championship. Normally, after a period of absence, we might be expected to say things like we’re delighted to be back, we’re looking forward to building a campaign… Racers like Josh aren’t interested in coming second, they’re here to win from day one, as am I.
“As for his teammate, we’re well advanced with discussions but we’re not quite there with the contract yet. However, it won’t be long before an announcement can be made.”
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As well as the unknown second driver, we also don’t yet know who the team’s sponsors will be, or the livery the cars will sport, but one thing we do know, Steve Dudman and the team didn’t endure all the difficulties of the last 17 months simply to make up the numbers. They’re in it to win it, and they’re here for the long term.
The BTCC is going to face many challenges over the coming years, but as Dudman so pointedly said as our chat wound-up: “Just because we’ve found our focus, it doesn’t mean that we’re happy to always react. We have to constantly look ahead, and the best place to do that from is at the front.”
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