Rocketsports signs Estonian Kasemets.

After starting the 2006 season with just a singleton entry, Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports Racing team has confirmed that it has signed Estonian Tonis Kasemets to its second car for at least six events later this year.

The 32-year old Kasemets, who becomes the first Estonian to compete in the Champ Car World Series, will join Dutchman Nicky Pastorelli for the first time at the Portland International Raceway and will continue to pilot the #18 Lola-Ford in the events at Cleveland, Toronto, Edmonton, Road America, and Mexico City.

After finishing as the runner-up in last year's Toyota Atlantic Championship, Kasemets began 2006 without a drive, although new sponsorship from 2005 backers Flexovit Abrasives has finally allowed him to achieve a dream he has been chasing since migrating to America in 1996.

"I would like to thank Paul Gentilozzi for the opportunity this season," said Kasemets, who competed in the 1995 Opel Euroseries before taking a two-year sabbatical while he settled his family in the States. "I am looking forward to climbing into the #18 Rocketsports Champ Car in Portland and working with the team."

Kasemets got his first 'break' in the US in 1998 by purchasing a 1988 Reynard Formula Continental. He took command quickly by winning eight out of ten SCCA races. His next step to the top was his partnership with engineering legend Ove Olsson in a 1999 Formula Continental Carbir.

In 2000, Kasemets purchased a DSTP/Mygel Formula Continental to compete in the US Formula Ford series, and took five race wins and four poles. In 2002 and 2003, he entered the US Formula Ford Championship driving in a Formula Zetec Van Diemen. Continuing to compete in the series in 2003, Kasemets was recognised as 'one of the top ten drivers in the world to keep your eyes on'.

2004 marked the start of Kasemets' road to Champ Car. Joining Brooks Racing to compete in a partial season in the Toyota Atlantic series, he would impress enough to earn a full-time ride in the series in 2005.

Kasemets earned his first front row starting position in only the second race of the '05 schedule, in Monterrey, where he went on to finish on the podium for the first time with a second place finish. Subsequent to that great finish, Kasemets found himself on the podium again in Portland, this time claiming his first Toyota Atlantic victory.

In a double-header event at Portland last year, he landed his first pole position in the second race, swept the weekend and won again by a landslide. Kasemets went on to earn two more pole positions that year, totalling eight front row starts, six podium finishes (three wins, three second place finishes) in twelve races.

"It has always been a dream for me to drive in the Champ Car World Series," he continued. "It is a wonderful series, there are a lot of great drivers, challenging venues, the cars are so fun to drive, and it just has an overall great atmosphere. I will do the best job that I can with the main goal to have the best finishes that we can as a team in the #18 car.

"I would also like to thank my sponsors - Flexovit Abrasives, MX and TMI - for all their support in my career and I know in return they would like to thank Paul for this opportunity to be exposed in such a high-profile sport."

Having run Antonio Pizzonia in round one, then swapped the Brazilian for Pastorelli in Houston, Gentilozzi is happy to have got his team up to full-strength, at least for part of the season.

"We are very proud to bring another car to the 2006 Champ Car field and give Tonis this opportunity," he admitted, "He is an extremely talented guy who has worked very hard to get here, and truly deserves this opportunity. We are excited to have him join us and our honoured to help him achieve his dream."