BMW squad aims to challenge for honours.

Team RAC boss Dick Bennetts says he is confident that 2008 can be a good year for his team in its second season running the BMW 320si in the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The WSR-run team enjoyed a fine first season with the car in 2007, with Colin Turkington taking four pole positions and three wins en-route to the Independents' title and rookie Tom Onslow-Cole also taking to the top step of the podium.

Pre-season testing has seen Turkington and new team-mate Stephen Jelley setting encouraging lap-times with the car during testing at both Rockingham and Brands Hatch, leaving Bennetts optimistic for the season ahead.

"We are quietly confident of a good run in this year's championship," he said. "Close season preparations and testing have gone smoothly, with the team working well together while Stephen has settled into his new environment.

"Colin has recorded some very encouraging times in testing and is happy with the car, while Stephen is impressing with every test. It's going to be a very tough season, but Team RAC is excited and justifiably so."

Northern Irishman Turkington was inside the top three at both Rockingham and Brands Hatch as the BMW teams impressed in pre-season testing - even though he was one of the drivers believed to have not undertaken a qualifying run during the day long test at Brands next week.

"Testing has gone well and I think it's fair to say we are much further down the road than this time last year," he said. "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 meanwhile moves over to tin-tops having spent the last three seasons competing in the British F3 International Series - finishing as top Briton in the standings last season.

Having spent his off-season running in the new GP2 Asia series as well as conducting his testing in the BMW and he admitted he was excited about his new challenge.

"I can't wait to get onto the grid next to some of the great British Touring Car drivers," he said. "Team RAC has given me the opportunity to drive in the championship and I intend to make the most of the opportunity.

"The team has given me fantastic support since my arrival so I am pretty confident."