Powered by a Cosworth DFV V8 engine and driven by Riccardo Patrese and Jochen Mass, it was relatively unsuccessful with its best finish being sixth on two occasions.

For the 1979 season, Tony Southgate supervised the design and development of the Arrows A2.

This enabled the use of aerodynamic underfloor sections across the full width of the chassis.

Within weeks design work started on the A2's successor, the A3, and the previous year's car, the A1, was brought back for one final entry in the 1979 season.

Mass managed a pair of sixth places, at the German and Dutch Grands Prix.