Kent and Vyxsin scored points with a lot of the fan base for their treatment of the fans after their season was filmed and their elimination that season was broadcast. (Not the first team to do that either -- the Guidos are the best example.) And I think several of these teams are showing signs of having benefited from their prior Racing experience.
As to Jaime, I'm going to guess that her decision to appear in a certain magazine wasn't very popular. Otherwise, I'm not really sure. I thought they were capable of winning the Race the first time around, and I would view them as a definite contender this time out.