THE TV programme Top Gear sees an unlikely line-up as presenter Jeremy Clarkson, from Chipping Norton, tries to find out which is the fastest religion.

An assistant curate from near Thame will be testing his Anglican skills against a Roman Catholic priest from Didcot, a Buddhist monk, a rabbi, a Hari Krishna devotee and an Anglican bishop in time trials.

The final trials were being filmed on a racetrack on November 27 and will be screened at 8pm on December 1.

Fr Simon Thomson, of the Church of English Martyrs, Didcot, who normally drives a sporty 120mph Seat Leon, said he was quietly confident, despite competition from the Anglican Bishop of Lewes, the Rt Rev Wallace Benn. A one-time lorry driver, Fr Thomson, 42, described himself as "an enthusiastic driver" who has ecumenical support from all the churches in the Didcot area.

He added: "I'm always amused when people express surprise that a priest should enjoy driving fast."

Like Fr Thomson, the Rev Antony Feltham-White, assistant curate in the Bernwode benefice, near Thame, is a member of the Institute of Advanced Motoring.

When he was studying at Wycliffe Hall theological college, he set up a motorsport group called Revelation Racing with a fellow ordinand.

Mr Feltham-white said: "I heard about the programme from a number of people and it seemed a natural thing to enter the challenge.

"I'm a member of the MG car club. But for day-to-day driving, I use a Peugeot 306. I'm also building a vintage racing car."