Young Racer Euan Bruce and his MG ZR

Report by Julia Bruce Images by Chris Bannister

18 July 2024

Back in 2021 Motorsport UK amended the rules and regulations for young drivers at hill climbs and sprint events, allowing young racers from the age of 14 the opportunity to get on track before they were legally allowed to drive on UK roads. In this report Julia Bruce, the parent of one of those young racers Euan Bruce who took that opportunity tells their story. 

Julia Bruce

The junior series has been set up to encourage young drivers aged 14-15 years to get involved in motorsport at hillclimb and sprint level competitions. The original regulations were that the car must be completely standard with basic safety modifications allowed which were a roll cage, harness and seat.

Initially it was set up that cars had to be:

• No more than 1400cc
• Post year 2000
• Minimum of 5000 cars in production
• Standard specification
• Standard road tyres

The latest changes are the 1400cc restriction has been removed this year and replaced with a maximum of 110bhp. If the car is turbo charged then a 1.7 multiplier is applied. When Euan and his father John heard about this, they were very excited with Euan set to work to find the perfect car for him to compete in. He did lots of research before settling on the MG ZR.

Over the summer of 2023 they got the car built and race ready. In September Euan turned 14 and three weeks later he competed at his first event.

As part of the criteria for the junior series drivers must complete 3 sprint events before they can drive at a hillclimb. Their first 3 events must also be observed with an official sitting alongside them before they are allowed on the track themselves. The junior driver must also be the only driver on the track at any time.

Euan shares his car with his father John, who started racing many years ago and is ex Scottish hillclimb road car champion. As you can imagine John was delighted to get back out racing, this time alongside his son!

Euan thoroughly enjoyed his first sprint events at Boyndie and was back out at Kames Motorsport Complex a few weeks later. Unfortunately, that event marked the end of the season so Euan had to wait again until April 2024 to get back out!

Having completed 4 sprint events even though he had been signed off as fully competent after the minimum 3 events, Euan was now able to take on the hills in 2024.

Euan is competing in the Scottish Sprint and Hillclimbing Championships this year so is taking part in all events throughout Scotland. He is a member of Grampian Automobile Club and has been involved with the club for many years. Prior to competing he was part of the clubs paddock Marshall’s team at their events.

Euan had no prior driving experience apart from a young Mini driver experience day at East Fortune in 2022 and some go karting fun with friends and family, so his first time at Boyndie he had a lot to learn and take on board. He has shown determination and ambition to do well at every event and takes on board all the Information he receives from fellow racers and officials.

His first hillclimb was a Doune in April…quite a daunting first hillclimb experience especially being the youngest ever driver at a British Hillclimb event. Euan took it all in his stride and was fantastic, getting lots of praise from fellow competitors and officials. He thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn’t wait to get back.

He has since competed at all Scottish events in both hills and sprints setting new records along the way and getting very close to his father times!



Euan was keen to try his hand at an English event so thanks to Harewood Hillclimb for making this happen. His father John had competed at Harewood 30 years ago so was delighted to return again competing with Euan.

Euan has also got involved in the mechanical side of the sport as he prepares the MG prior to each event, and has been involved with the servicing and maintenance schedule. He also helped to rebuild the MGs engine after he pinged the valves at Kames.

Now that Euan has a few events under his belt he is looking forward to what the rest of the season will bring contesting the MG and racing alongside his father.

2023 Events Best Times 

Euan                John

Boyndie

82.91               78.48

Kames

109.27             108.14

97.32               94.47

Kames and Boyndie change track layout on Sundays so different times.

2024 Events Best Times  v John

Euan                John

Kames

107.10            105.16

98.02               94.28

Doune

64.19               61.66

Kames

107.58*           103.42*

(1 day, engine problem)

Fintray

40.29               38.63

Euan                John

Golspie

123.88             123.57

93.33               92.61

Forrestburn

59.52               58.73

Doune

61.82               59.38

Boyndie

78.25               78.06

Chris Bannister, the resident photographer at Harewood Hillclimb now takes over the story.

Bruce Racing Team

Euan Bruce was the first junior and youngest ever driver at a British Hillclimb Championship event in England. Both he and his dad John are looking forward to coming back again next year to Harewood Speed Hillclimb. The hill is the longest Hillclimb in the UK at 1440 meters.

John holds a National Licence and was running in Class A1 for road cars series up to 2000cc while as a Junior Euan had to run in Class 26, a BARC Yorkshire members Inter-club event.

Saturday

Euan had 2 practice runs and 3 timed runs. It was on his third timed run that he set his best time of 76.55. His dad John just had 3 practice runs and his best time was 76.43. After the lunch break the track conditions changed after some rain.

Sunday

Started dry and saw both drivers times coming down in the Practice runs. Unfortunately, the heavens opened just after John’s 1st timed run of 75.58 while Euan had a wet timed run of 80.19

John’s 2nd timed run was 79.63 much slower due to the track conditions.  After another heavy downpour, the track dried up a little and Euan’s final timed run of 78.93 couldn’t quite get down to John’s time in his first timed run.

If you would like to know more about becoming a young racer in UK motorsport head over to the Motorsport UK website where all of the information you will need to start racing can be found.