The new engine, which weighed 137 kilograms (302 lb) and was thus similar to the Ilmor 2175 V10 used by fellow Formula 1 team, Leyton House, was developed by John Judd and generated plenty of power.

[2][3] The car's monocoque chassis was of carbon fibre and provided with a six-speed transverse gearbox developed by Dallara.

[2] The Scuderia Italia drivers for 1991 were Emanuele Pirro, who had driven for the team the previous year, and JJ Lehto.

[2][3] In pre-qualifying for the season-opening race in the United States, Pirro and Lehto were first and second fastest respectively, and then qualified 9th and 10th.

[5] At the San Marino Grand Prix, Pirro failed to pre-qualify but Lehto passed through, placing 16th on the grid for the race itself.

In the damp conditions in which the race started, Lehto quickly moved through the field to 6th place by lap 22 and was 3rd at the conclusion of the event.

[6] Both Scuderia Italia drivers easily passed through pre-qualifying at the race in Monaco, and placed 12th and 13th on the grid, Lehto ahead of Pirro.

After a collision with Andrea de Cesaris's Jordan 191 on lap 1, Pirro had handling issues for the remainder of the race and eventually placed 9th.

[7] In Mexico, Pirro did not pre-qualify for the race and while Lehto did, and started from 16th, he retired halfway through with another engine failure.

[14] Both drivers retired from the Portuguese Grand Prix, having started the event from 17th (Pirro) and 18th (Lehto) on the grid.

In Lehto's case, this was due to his gear selection lever being inadequately secured by a mechanic and working itself loose during the race.

Pirro collided with Ivan Capelli's Leyton House CG911 on lap 2 but recovered after some remedial work in the pits to place 15th.

[16] On lap 2 of the Japanese race, after Pirro and Lehto qualified 12th and 16th, both drivers were eliminated in a crash with de Cesaris.

[17] In the season-ending race in Australia, which was afflicted with heavy rain and only ran for 14 laps, Lehto qualified in 11th with Pirro two places back on the grid.