This tiny Citroën rivalled the Golf GTI

If you were one of the braver souls to march off down towards Woodcote, away from the cover from the wintery winds of the paddocks and coffee vendors, you may have spotted the rarest hot hatch invited along to the day. Or maybe you didn’t, seeing how totally inconspicuous this little Citroën AX GT Sportif looks alongside the likes of some of the more lairy modern hot hatches.

For those without a keen eye, the AX GT Sportif looks like something you’d see an OAP nipping to the local post office in to pick up the pension. It’s small, it’s boxy, it’s basic, and it’s not particularly powerful. By all looks and purposes it’s a totally normal run around. But in the context of a Goodwood Breakfast Club grid line up, it’s a very exciting thing indeed.

Among the admirers, peering into the windows and reminiscing about owning their own AX way back when, we pick out owner Martin Walker for a quick chat.

“It’s a 1988 model with 63,000 miles on the clock” he says. “I think there’s only 37 of the AX GTs left on the road. The Sportif was a special edition run by Citroën UK. This is the last one registered. It's the only one left on the road, which was part of the attraction for when I bought it 7 years ago”.

“I had one when I was in my early 20s and absolutely loved it. I always thought it was a very underrated car. Then I was in a fortunate position I could pick one up relatively cheaply”.

Fitted with a single-carburettor 85bhp 1.4 engine, which was also found in the Peugeot 205 XS, the AX GT Sportif isn’t powerful, as Martin happily admits.

“Through the gears, it was as quick as the Golf GTI it was up against. 0-60 is 8.8 seconds. Shockingly slow by today's standards. But Between 50 and 70, it’s quick through the gears. It drives like a go-kart. It’s so light.”

It’s this lightness however, which has led to the AX GT Sportif’s rarity, according to Martin: “They're so rare because they basically fell apart. They are very, very light. You wouldn't ever want to a crash in one. They only weigh 700 kilos. It's one of the lightest cars on the road.”

Despite its rarity, Martin is happy to take the Sportif out for some smile-inducing drives, and we’re glad he did. Sometimes, it pays to walk just that bit further, to find these unicorns of motoring. “It's a lovely run down here from Kent throwing it around the corners once you get off the motorway. It has come down to Goodwood a couple of times, which is great fun, and it’s even done a lap of Silverstone for the Silverstone Classic.”

Photography by James Lynch.