Missing the first race of the season, the LC87 debuted at the 1987 San Marino Grand Prix. Qualifying 22nd on the grid, and second-fastest of the normally-aspirated cars, Alliot finished the race in tenth position despite being delayed when Pascal Fabre spun. At the second race in Belgium, Alliot qualified 20th and finished eighth, and first in his class, leaving him and Lola second in the normally-aspirated class championship tables. The team subsequently made weight-saving developments to the car, reducing it to 512 kg. However, the car's first retirement came in the next race in Monaco, where Alliot qualified 18th, but retired on lap 43 of the race with engine failure while running 14th. At the next race in Detroit, Alliot started 20th and improved to 11th on race day before crashing into a wall while trying to pass René Arnoux. The retirements dropped Lola to third in the Colin Chapman Trophy, and Alliot to fourth in the Jim Clark Cup.