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Many reckon that Turkington, the reigning Independent Drivers’ Champion and entering his seventh BTCC season, has yet to show his full hand in the team’s BMW 320si, while newcomer Jelley has looked immediately at home.

Furthermore, Bennetts’ renowned WSR outfit that runs Team RAC’s BTCC programme is entering its second season with the BMW that last year achieved four race wins plus, in Turkington’s hands, an unrivalled four pole positions – its first coming on its debut at Brands, scene of this weekend’s season-opener (29-20 March).

As well, both RAC BMWs will this year run with five-speed ‘H-shift’ gearboxes as opposed to the six-speed sequential units they used in 2007 but which carried a 30kg weight penalty.

Looking ahead to the HiQ-backed BTCC’s 2008 season, Bennetts said: “We are quietly confident of a good run in this year’s championship. Close season preparations and testing have gone smoothly, with the team working well together.

“Colin has recorded some very encouraging times in testing and is happy with the car, while Stephen has settled into his new environment and impressed with every test. It’s going to be a very tough season, but Team RAC is excited and justifiably so.”

Notably, Turkington posted the second fastest time during Rockingham’s Media Day test and was then third last week at Brands Hatch – just 8/100ths of a second away from rival BMW driver Mat Jackson who set the pace. Turkington, though, is understood to have set his time on used tyres and also opted not to go out on track when most people set their best times.

The Northern Irishman, who turned 26 last week, said: “Testing has gone well and I think it’s fair to say we are much further down the road than this time last year. There are plenty of reasons for Team RAC fans to be optimistic and I share those same thoughts.

“It’s my second year in the BMW 320si so hopefully I can put last year’s experiences to good use.”

Jelley, too, has demonstrated strong pace to date – he was fourth fastest in Rockingham’s test and is also thought to have been holding back before at Brands where he was 12th.

The 25-year-old, third in last year’s British Formula 3 Championship, has kept himself race-sharp in the past week – competing in yesterday’s GP2 Asia race that supported the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix before flying back to the UK…

The Leicester driver said: “I can’t wait to get onto the grid alongside some of the great BTCC drivers. Team RAC has given me the opportunity to drive in the championship and I intend to make the most of it. The team has given me fantastic support since my arrival so I am pretty confident.”