Whether in the pulpit or the pitlane, vicar Simon Butler takes his two religions – Christianity and motor racing – very seriously. Simon de Burton charts a rise from karting to the Le Mans Cup, a journey that has needed divine calendar juggling along the way

SWNS

If you think being a man of the cloth is about nothing more than preaching sermons, lending an ear to parishioners in need and raising money to fix the roof, you probably haven’t heard of the Reverend Simon Butler.

When not busy taking care of the 12 churches he’s responsible for in and around the Hampshire village of Upton Grey, the 42-year-old father of three can be found pedalling a Lotus Elan at race circuits in the UK and Europe wearing the Nomex-clad guise of his highly competitive alter ego.

Readers of this magazine will be all too familiar with the two major obstacles that need to be overcome by anyone who wants to get serious about motor racing: a) finding the time and b) finding the money.

Considering a vicar’s average stipend comes in at something less than £30,000 and that most motor sport takes place at weekends when churches tend to be at their busiest, we couldn’t help wondering how Rev Butler does it – and how he got into competitive driving in the first place. Because if a vicar can find a way, it should give hope to all of us.