The Epic 1996 Le Mans Duel: Porsche GT1 vs. FINA McLaren 🏁🚗💨. The legendary battle between Porsche and McLaren at the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans remains one of the most thrilling chapters in modern motorsport history. That year, TV cameras and spectators at the Circuit de la Sarthe were captivated by a fierce, hours-long duel between the white McLaren F1 GTR sporting the iconic FINA livery (car #39 from Team Bigazzi) and the revolutionary, factory-backed Porsche GT1 (car #26). As commentators tracked the intense action on the track, the name of French driver Yannick Dalmas echoed through the broadcast. Dalmas was putting on a masterclass behind the wheel of the Porsche, fighting tooth and nail for position against the FINA McLaren. Inside the cockpit of the British supercar was touring car legend Steve Soper, who shared driving duties that weekend with Jacques Laffite and Marc Duez. Ultimately, Porsche's purpose-built racing architecture prevailed over McLaren’s production-based design. The Porsche GT1 driven by Dalmas, Karl Wendlinger, and Scott Goodyear secured a fantastic third-place overall finish, while Soper and his legendary teammates in the FINA McLaren crossed the line in eighth overall after battling mechanical setbacks during the night.