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. Dalmas's engine cut out on lap 33 when he was running ninth, and Alliot pulled in with a broken engine mounting eight laps later, also while running ninth. The nose and front suspension were revised for the next race at San Marino, where Alliot qualified 15th with Dalmas 19th. Dalmas finished 12th, two laps down, and Alliot finished 17th, three laps down after spending time in the pits with a suspension problem. Both drivers complained of a lack of grip. 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. Alliot had run as high as ninth before baulking Patrese's attempt to lap him at Mirabeau; the subsequent collision left Alliot's car heavily damaged after contact with the tyre wall.