Race in place (3)
I believe the answer is:
rev
'race in place' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for rev that I've seen before include "Speed up engine (colloq.)" , "Cleric" , "Reverend (abbr.)" , "Run (engine) quickly" , "One turn of an engine, in short" .)