Rocketsports Racing brings Jaguar to ALMS GT2 ranks

It's been a while since we heard any news from Rocketsports racing. The long-time Trans Am competitors last turned up running in Champ Car. During the last several Trans Am seasons, Rocketsports ran Jaguar XKRs, and this weekend at the Long Beach ALMS round, Rocketsports boss Paul Gentilozzi announced that his team would return to the grid summer with a brand-new XKR in the ALMS GT2 class. Testing begins in June, and the new Rocketsports XKR is scheduled to begin competing in July. Power will be delivered via a race-prepped version of the new direct-injected 5.0-liter V8 that debuts in the XK and XF this summer.

Like other GT2 racers, the XKR is based on the production car's chassis, in this case the aluminum structure that forms the basis of the XK. The alloy chassis is then beefed up with the customary steel roll cage and other reinforcements. It's looking increasingly like GT2 is the place to be, with Jaguar joining BMW and the new Corvettes along with the Ferrari F430s and Porsche 911s that have been there for several years.

[Source: American Le Mans Series]