AFTER his stunning showing on the recent Weir Engineering Wyedean Forest Rally Graham Elsmore will return to where he secured the best result of his professional career at this year's Rally Isle of Man in

September.

Formally known as the Manx International, the event will see Graham re-united with the mighty TR7V8.

The TR7V8 is the property of Rob Weir the man who loaned Elsmore and co-driver Stuart Harrold his new Escort RS1800 for the 40th running of the Wyedean, and the duo finished 19th overall and 3rd in the two wheel drive section and took a class win, after an impressive display on only his second rally in 23 years.

Elsmore and co-driver Fred Gallagher took a superb 3rd overall on the 1979 Manx International, when the Edge End based driver was driving for John Davenport's British Leyland team, alongside Swedish and Finnish legends Per Eklund and Simo Lampinen.

The Manx in '79 featured more than 270 competitive miles over three tough days. The entry list read like a Who's Who of world rallying with Hannu Mikkola, Henri Toivonen, Stig Blomqvist, Roger Clark, Tony Pond, Jimmy McRae and eventual Manx victor Russell Brookes all competing.

The 2015 event will comprise of 180 stage miles over three days, and proves extremely popular with competitors.

"To be able to do the 40th Wyedean in Rob's car was a dream, and to be able to repay the Weir family with a class win was a little bit of a thank you from Stuart and myself," said Elsmore.

"But then Rob asked me if I wanted to do the Manx in the TR7, I just can't believe this is happening to me.

"The Manx was my best result as a professional driver, it was a fantastic event, and the TR7 was an awesome car on tarmac, but hard work on the gravel.

"When I went up to RSR for a seat fitting for the Escort I saw the TR7 in the workshop.

"The car is a credit to (car builder) Rob Smith and his team, I just can't thank Rob Weir enough for giving me these opportunities."

Elsmore will be co-driven on the Manx by Ross Weir, who did the 2014 event with Guy Woodcock.

"After his Wyedean performance you could see he still had that old magic, and it gave me great pleasure seeing him driving my car," said team boss Rob Weir.

"With Ross wanting to do the Manx again, it made sense to reunite Graham and the TR7 on the island, and he didn't need much persuading."