RALLY star Neil Simpson heads for Ulster on Monday to conduct vital testing of his new DGrepared Mitsubishi Lancer Group N car ahead of the next round of the British Rally Championship.

Having failed to score on last month's opening round of the series, Simpson and co-driver Mike Gibson know that a good result is vital on May's Pirelli International Rally.

"We have a number of things to test," said Colne-based Simpson, 28. "Chief among them are a new engine from Mountune and a new Motec engine management system. It's important we get things running right so that we can concentrate on setting up the car's handling when we test in Kielder Forest in the week prior to the Pirelli.

"I'm confidence that we'll get the car sorted and that we will be gunning for a strong placing on the Pirelli."

Simpson's assault on the British Championship is backed by Pirelli and by Browns Mitsubishi.