The ER189 debuted in the 1989 British Grand Prix, driven by Swiss Gregor Foitek, who failed to pre-qualify.

Foitek was unable to get out of Friday pre-qualifying for the next three races and left the team after the 1989 Belgian Grand Prix.

Oscar Larrauri, who had driven for the team the previous year, was called back to finish the season, although he failed to pre-qualify for a single race as well.

The team hired Brazilian Roberto Moreno and Italian Claudio Langes, and while the car was not bad there was no money for development, despite the best efforts of Dutch engineer Kees Van der Grint.

Moreno only pre-qualified on five occasions and raced twice, finishing 13th in the 1990 United States Grand Prix, after qualifying 16th, ahead of Nigel Mansell.