In PCM07, the very beloved feature "One texture pr. rider" was removed. Because of that, it was impossible to have different back numbers for the riders, you couldn't make individual faces for each rider - in general, it put a limit on the creativity from the graphic artists. Cyanide never explained why they removed it, and the first screenshots of PCM08 indicated that the feature wouldn't make its return to the game. However, the very latest screenshots are more positive for the artists. In the Rider Asking For Water-screenshot you can clearly see that the riders wear different back numbers, and that gives us hope towards seeing the feature in the game again. However, on another screenshot from today, the Gas Station-screenshot, the riders wear the same number.

So, in conclusion, we can't know for sure if the feature is back, but one screenshot does give us hope ;)