The 36-year-old won the two-wheel drive category and finished 19th overall.

The Banchory builder, who has been competing as a rally driver for 12 years, was delighted to take the title.

"I can't complain with how the race went," he said. "We just seemed to have a good run and everything went pretty smoothly. We had a wee problem on stage three when I almost went off the track and we damaged the rear suspension but we got that fixed and the car was pretty reliable to us over the course of the race."
Bruce paid tribute to his co-driver Michael Coutts from Torphins after the win.

He said: "Our partnership actually started at the Banchory Show about four or five years ago and after we had had a few beers he said he would be keen to come on board. Ever since then we have gone from strength to strength.

He knows how I like the notes and I suppose the partnership is a bit like a marriage really! You have to believe what he is telling you because at the speed you are going if he is wrong then you are going to be in a big accident. It is great to have a local guy in beside you and he likes winning too so it is going great."

However the pair might not be back in action until the Speyside Stages in August.

Bruce explained: "We were planning to do a couple of other races but it looks like Speyside will be our next race. We had to spend a fair bit of money on the car over the winter period, rebuilding the gearbox and the engine. We are just trying to get a few good results this year then go for it next year and do the full season. The way things are just now you really have to count the pennies and it costs a lot of money to get the car geared up for these events."

The overall winner of the Granite City Rally was Mike Faulkner accompanied by his co-driver Peter Foy.

Alford schoolgirl Laura Stuart, 16, also tasted success when she guided her father Willie to victory in the class three category.