The disappointing 1988 season was quickly put behind by the Larrousse team, which ended the year by adding an important new figure to their ranks: French engineer Gérard Ducarouge, formerly of Lotus. His arrival brought justified optimism ahead of the 1989 championship. Ducarouge took on the role of technical director and was responsible for designing the new LC89.
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| LARROUSSE-LOLA LC89, Michele Alboreto Hockenheimring, German GP 1989 |
Another significant novelty for the French team was the new engine powering their cars that year: the Lamborghini LE3512, a 3493 cc V12 designed by Mauro Forghieri, former Ferrari engineer and a key figure behind many of the Cavallino's victories. After leaving Ferrari in 1987, Forghieri joined Lamborghini as a board member and technical director of Lamborghini Engineering, a motorsport division strongly supported by Lee Iacocca. At the time, Iacocca, then CEO of Chrysler, was behind the American company's acquisition of the historic Emilia-based supercar brand. Under the direction of sporting manager Daniele Audetto, another former Ferrari man, Forghieri designed a naturally aspirated 80° V12 engine with four valves per cylinder, delivering approximately 600 hp.
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| LARROUSSE-LOLA LC88B, Yannick Dalmas Jacarepaguà, Brazilian GP 1989 |
From this season, Gérard Larrousse remained the sole leader of the team after his partner Didier Calmels was convicted of uxoricide on February 28, 1989, receiving a six-year prison sentence. As a result, he was “invited” to step down from team management. This heavy blow was quickly absorbed by the small French team, and Gérard Ducarouge, together with Chris Murphy and Hans Fouche, continued tirelessly with the design of the new Larrousse-Lola LC89. The chassis remained a carbon fiber monocoque built by Lola and designed by Eric Broadley, but due to various early-season complications, the new single-seater was only ready for the second race of the season. For the season opener in Brazil, the old LC88 in the “B” version was still used, fitted with the Lamborghini V12, which, being much larger than the Ford-Cosworth V8, required the complete removal of the engine cover.
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| LARROUSSE-LOLA LC89, Philippe Alliot Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1989 |
The new LC89 debuted at the second race of the season at Imola and featured many similarities with the previous LC88B, although the rear section was entirely redesigned, particularly the massive engine cover to accommodate the shape of the Lamborghini V12, and the nose cone was now more streamlined. Despite modern push-rod suspension, clearly harmonious aerodynamic lines, and all the updates introduced by Ducarouge, the new LC89 fell well short of expectations. The heavy Bolognese V12 failed to exceed the 600 hp mark, far too little to compete with the Renault, Ferrari, and especially Honda engines.
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| LARROUSSE-LOLA LC89, Michele Alboreto Spa-Fancorchamps, Belgian GP 1989 |
Driven by returning French drivers Philippe Alliot and Yannick Dalmas, the new car failed to achieve significant results. From mid-season onward, the French team had to deal with the challenge of pre-qualifying. Dalmas was even dropped after five consecutive failures to qualify and was first replaced by rookie compatriot Éric Bernard, then by experienced Italian driver Michele Alboreto. Over the course of the season, the LC89 reached the chequered flag only five times, and Alliot scored the team’s sole point of the year at the Spanish Grand Prix. Thus, Larrousse-Lola concluded its third season in Formula 1 with results well below expectations, finishing fifteenth in the Constructors’ Championship.
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