A vicar of 17 years is defying stereotypes – by moonlighting as a RACECAR DRIVER.
Simon Butler, 42, looks after 12 churches in rural Hampshire – which he juggles alongside motor racing.
The dad-of-three began go-kart racing in his early teens and his passion grew as he continued to work to become a vicar.
And next year, Simon, who lives in Upton Grey, will even be travelling to France to compete in the iconic Le Mans race.
He says his flock has embraced his passion – often going to support him him at races and even nicknaming him ‘the racing Reverend’.
Now Simon wants to break the stereotype that suggests vicars are meek and mild mannered and “spend most of their time drinking tea and eating cake”.
He said: “I’ve been racing from a young age – and as I grew up it became a chance to escape the pressures of parish life.
“While some vicars may use study and writing to refresh themselves, my refresh is in the cockpit of a race car.
“I’m a very competitive person and I love pushing myself beyond my limits – I love the thrill of driving very fast.
“My parishioners are actually very supportive of it and come to watch me at races.
“It’s always surprised me that people see vicaring and racing as being incongruous.
“They think of the stereotyped playboy racing driver and the meek and mild rural vicar and the two seem worlds apart – but for me they go hand in hand.
“Racing doesn’t detract from my parish work – in fact it and makes it better.”
Simon began his racing journey with go-karting at the age of 13 before eventually moving to single-seat racing.
As he began training to become ordained, he kept racing alongside his work.
Up until now, Simon – @racing_reverand on Twitter – has always raced for fun, but he now plans to step it up to the next level.
In 2023 he will be due three months sabbatical, which is time away from parish responsibilities once every seven years to refresh and rest.
And he will spend it travelling to France to compete in the world famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The endurance event sees racers from all backgrounds – including professionals and amateurs – aim to travel the furthest distance in 24 hours.
This year, to build up to racing at Le Mans next year, he will also be racing in six races across Europe in the Michelin Le Mans cup – known as ‘the road to Le Mans’.
He will be racing in his newest car model, a 2022 Ligier LMP3.
He said: “Many vicars choose to spend that time studying and writing, to refresh yourself.
“But my refresh is in the cockpit of a racecar.”
The unusual hobby for a vicar takes people by surprise, but in fact his parishioners are some of his biggest fans and support him in every way they can.
Many of them love to go for a beer with him and chat about their mutual love of motorsports, while some even travel across the country to his races to cheer from the sidelines.
He said: “People don’t expect it, but I’m actually a really competitive person, and I love pushing myself beyond my limits.
“For me, it’s about that relentless pursuit of better performance, I find it very stimulating. I just love the thrill of driving really fast.
“It’s always surprised me that people see vicaring and racing as being incongruous.
“There are stereotypes – the image of the playboy racing driver, and then the meek and mild rural vicar who spends days “drinking tea and eating cake”
“But for me there is no clash, these are my God-given interests and talents and I can sit comfortably in both worlds.”
As he prepares to move forward in his racing by attending Le Mans, he wants to prove the stereotypes of vicarage and racing can be very wrong.
In fact, he says racing makes him a better vicar.
Simon said: “The two – vicaring and racing – are integrated in the sense that I’m the same person in a racing suit as in my vicar’s robes.
“I do find that racing grounds and anchors my life as a vicar – I’m not consumed by the church.
“As a vicar, you should be able to relate easily to everyone from princes to beggars. So having a foot in another world is important – it keeps me grounded and engaged.
“It doesn’t detract from my work – in fact it nourishes it, and makes my ministry better.”
