At the LC88's debut event, the 1988 Brazilian Grand Prix, French drivers Philippe Alliot and Yannick Dalmas qualified their cars 16th and 17th respectively, but both retired from the race.

[2] Dalmas subsequently tested the car in France and further suspension modifications were made, and at the following race in Monaco, he qualified 21st with Alliot up in 13th.

Dalmas raced well and was running sixth on the last lap with a chance of a World Championship point, but was passed by Riccardo Patrese before the chequered flag, and finished seventh.

On race day, Alliot stalled on the grid and started from the back, and retired on lap 1 with a cracked suspension upright.

[2] At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Dalmas had another big practice accident, this time colliding with Oscar Larrauri's EuroBrun, but managed to qualify the spare car in 17th.

At Estoril, Dalmas qualified 15th but retired with a snapped alternator belt, while Alliot started 20th and was out by lap 8 with engine failure.

Aguri Suzuki stepped in at short notice and qualified 20th despite having very little experience with the car; Alliot was one place ahead in 19th.

[2] Pierre-Henri Raphanel took Dalmas's place at the season-ending Australian Grand Prix, but failed to qualify, while Alliot started 24th.

In a disappointing end to the season for the team, he raced at the back of the field before running out of fuel; he was classified tenth, five laps behind the winner.

The car was replaced by the Lola LC89 by the 1989 San Marino Grand Prix, and so had failed to score any World Championship points during its time in Formula One.