Matt Welsh in top gear

The retired Olympic swimmer proves it pretty regularly and does it again as he trumps a 12-star field - and a couple of motoring journalists - during a fun run around the Melbourne Showgrounds.

The occasion is the Top Gear Live celebration, which includes a series of display drives around a short-and-narrow course mapped through the access roads in the Showgrounds. It's far too dinky for the driver of the classic Elfin to unleash his Formula 5000 racer, but good enough for the celeb contenders in a timed shootout that runs as a backdrop to the Melbourne leg of James May and Jeremy Clarkson's world tour.

The best thing about the celebrity challenge, and the reason for a Carsguide cameo, is the cars. Renault has brought a couple of its perky little Clio hatches along for the event, and they are the hotrod 147 kiloWatt RS 200 Gordini Edition. For people who don't know, Gordini has a long history in the France with race and fast road cars.

It's a bit like Holden Special Vehicles, with a focus on the baby cars that have been Renault bedrock for generations. The Gordini looks a bit special with a pair of racing stripes over the top, but it's when I turn they key that it really comes alive. It's surprisingly quick, incredibly responsive, and just plain fun.

And that's before I head onto the course at the Showgrounds. Australia is now picking up a growing selection of hot hatches from Europe and the Gordini becomes an instant favourite alongside the latest Polo GTi from Volkswagen and the rorty - but expensive - John Cooper Works version of the Mini Cooper S.

Just over $40,000 is not cheap, but - apart from a steering column that doesn't adjust for rake - there is no much else to complain about. The Gordini really jumps around the Showground and is quick enough to have celebrity trainer Nathan Pretty - a handy V8 Supercar co-driver at Bathurst and now a V8 ute racer - jumping for cover as I cut one corner tighter than he expects.

There is little chance to run through the slick six-speed gearbox but the brakes are great and the suspension keeps the wheels planted on the slippery surface. Later, running back to Melbourne airport, the Gordini is good fun and easy to nip through gaps and ease around some favourite corners. It's a smiley car - and that ticks the box for Carsguide.

Pretty really earns his money as the celebrities run through the program, with a wide range of ability and a 13-second spread between Welsh and Vince Colosimo on a run that takes barely 90 seconds. Welsh is eventually a full four seconds quicker than Paul Chapman - Carsguide would have been second - and shows the benefit of years of training and practice.

He applies similar dedication to his driving as he used for success in swimming, even arriving at the Showgrounds in a pair of custom driving shoes, in a lesson to anyone who wants to be a better drive. "Matt was always pretty keen. I've seen him at a lot of events," says  Pretty.

"He used to turn up all the time when I was doing stuff with Holden. He's pretty good. "I wish everyone was like that. This job can get a bit scary at times."