After a promising first season in F1 in 1987, the Lola Larrousse-Calmels team developed the first year project giving life to the LC88, modified especially in the suspensions. The car was quite competitive in the slow circuits but over the course of the season the results were poor overall. Two of the five LC88s were modified to face the start of the 1989 season with the Lamborghini engine, pending the arrival of the LC89. The LC88 was driven by Philippe Alliot, Yannick Dalmas, Pierre-Henri Raphanel and Aguri Suzuki.