Mat Jackson is joining Jason Plato in racing his RML-run Chevrolet Lacetti under the Racing Silverline banner at Donington. Like many BTCC team and driver announcements this year, it’s not clear whether it’ll apply to the whole season, but I find the news hugely encouraging.

It’s an excellent proof of concept. RML has run factory operations for SEAT and Chevrolet, and now looks to be proving that it can enter the BTCC independently, secure sponsorship, and win races.

Why is this encouraging? Because I think it’s important that Triple Eight – the team behind VX Racing – stays in the BTCC in 2010 as an independent, after Vauxhall pulls out at the end of this season. Hopefully RML’s success – with sponsorship and race results – will spur on Triple Eight.

To be fair, the BTCC already has a healthy quota of competitive independent teams: Team RAC, Airwaves BMW, Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing, Team Dynamics. With luck Team Aon will be added to that list as the season progresses, and the Ford Focus finds some performance.

But there’s no guarantee that all those teams will still be around in 2010, and when the last manufacturer pulls out, the BTCC is going to need a strong rosta of independents to maintain its reputation.