Dallara did not have their planned F188 chassis ready for Scuderia Italia to start the 1988 Formula One season. However, in order to fulfil its obligations to participate in the World Championship, a team had to participate in all the season's races. Therefore, for the first race in Brazil, Scuderia Italia brought a chassis designated the 3087. This was Dallara's Formula 3000 car first used in 1987 by two Italian teams, adapted to meet the Formula One regulations. It was equipped with a 3-litre Cosworth DFV engine with the rev limiter removed; all other normally aspirated cars in Formula One had larger 3.5-litre engines. It was driven by Italian Alex Caffi who had previously driven in Formula One for Osella.