Grandmother Sue Strutt – the vicar of eight parishes around Bosbury, near Ledbury – got to fulfil a lifelong dream when she whizzed around the famous track at more than 100 miles per hour.

And those who would like to see what a vicar travelling at high speed looks like can do when her lap around the course is shown on tomorrow’s episode of Tonight’s the Night, the BBC One programme which surprised her with the experience.

Rev Strutt, aged 65, said: “My daughter arranged it quite unknown to me. She said she was coming down for the weekend and was taking me out for the day – and we ended up in Hampton Court meeting John Barrowman.”

Mr Barrowman – who presents the Saturday night show – then told Rev Strutt she was going to be taken down to Silverstone to try her hand at racing, helped by champion rally driver Kris Meeke. And, after being driven round the track at top speed by Mr Meeke, she got to take the wheel herself.

“If I were 40 years younger I could give them a run for their money,” said Rev Strutt, who was one of the first women vicars to be ordained back in 1994.

“What is really special though is the fact my daughter wanted to do this for me. As a family we have actually been through quite a lot over the years, but my husband and I always tried to support our family. There is quite an emotional bit in the programme, actually.”

But what do Rev Strutt’s parishioners think of her need for speed?

“They are all a bit thrilled with it,” she said.

“People have a stereotypical view of people like vicars, but doing stuff like this shows our human side.

“We enjoy life – without getting too religious about it – we enjoy the whole of life. Our religious side complements the everyday side.”

l Tonight’s the Night will be screened on BBC One at 7.10pm tomorrow.