Why teen racer Euan is following in his dad’s tyre tracks (and maybe even overtaking him)

There’s starting young, and then there’s starting young.

Euan Bruce was two weeks old when he attended his first motorsport event.

He might not remember the early years, but he has been part of the racing world for virtually all his life.

Euan’s dad John is a Scottish champion in the hill climb event, and the family’s weekends have always revolved around the racing calendar.

So it’s perhaps no surprise to hear that Euan, now 16, is already breaking records and winning races on the regular.

With support from dad John and mum Julia, the Insch teenager was the youngest Scot on the circuit when the rules changed in 2023.

And now, he’s stepping up a level to compete in a custom-built car.

Luckily, the family are quite happy to live the van life and spend weekends in their motorhome at various venues across the country.

From two weeks to 14 years

To tell this story properly, we need to go all the way back to that Autumn 2009 event that set Euan on the road (sorry) to his current success.

The venue was Doune Hill near Callander, where dad John was competing.

Julia, who works in a local school, took up the story.

“John competed up until about 2013. Unfortunately, he had a crash then, so the car stayed in the garage.”

John had also always been involved with Grampian Automobile Club.

Julia added: “John’s been involved in that ever since it started.

“We would always go along to the events and Euan always wanted to go along with dad and see what was going on with the cars.

“And then Euan got involved in helping out with the club as well.”

Euan added: “I’ve been helping, actually, since I was about 10.”

Euan loved being involved in the club in marshalling and organisational roles – but he also had his eyes on getting in the driving seat when he turned 16.

Then, the rules changed to allow competitors aged 14 and 15, and the race was on to find a car for Euan before he turned 14.

Julia said: “At that particular time, Euan was counting down the days till he was 16.”

Julia and John knew they had to let Euan give it a go.

A natural winner

Euan eventually settled on an MG ZR — if that means nothing to you, rest assured it’s fast.

The car cost about £2,500 and it took a couple of months work to get it race-ready, including fitting a roll cage and harnesses.

Here is a photo….

Aside from a Mini driving experience when he was 12 and the odd jaunt on private farm roads, Euan had no experience behind the wheel.

The Inverurie Academy pupil had to prove he was ready for the hill climb by taking part in three sprint races.

He more than held his own and was soon ready to start taking part in hill climb events.

Euan said: “I was definitely nervous and excited and just eager to get going. As soon as I started, I knew it was where my life was just going disappear to.”

Julia added: “No, he definitely did extremely well and caught a lot of people’s attention, even after his first outing.”

Appropriately, things went fast from then on.

In 2024, Euan was awarded best newcomer in the Scottish Hill Climb and Sprint Championship.

Last year, he was named overall sprint champion for 2025.

He is also the current overall club champion at Grampian Automobile Club.

But what sort of dedication does it take to make this success happen? And what are Euan’s hopes for the future?

‘We do it as a family’

Team Bruce is on the road at least 16 weekends a year in their motorhome, from April to October.

But it’s virtually in their DNA — Julia and John met through a mutual racing friend.

Julia said: “I think it’s absolutely brilliant, because it’s something that we can all do, but it’s obviously Euan and John racing together. They share the car.

[Source: Press and Journal]