The Ford GT race car, based on Ford GT in Detroit Is Very Real, With 600-Plus HP" target="_blank">the GT that awed us in Detroit earlier this year, will run the full 2016 schedules of the FIA World Endurance Championship and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. In partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing, the automaker will present four cars at next year's races. The GT will make its first competition debut in January 2016 in the Rolex 24 in Daytona, Fla.

As we've known for some time, the Ford GT boasts a 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 engine with over 600 hp, making it the most powerful EcoBoost production engine ever. To prepare it for one of the most difficult races in the world, the race car has undergone extensive design and testing by Ford and Multimatic Motorsports. The engine is said to be derived from the one used in the Ford-Riley Daytona Prototypes Ganassi currently campaigns in the TUDOR series.

"As we developed the Ford GT, from the outset, we wanted to ensure we had a car that has what it takes to return Ford to the world of GT racing," said Raj Nair, global product development boss for Ford, in a release. "We believe the Ford GT's advances in aerodynamics, light-weighting and EcoBoost power will make for a compelling race car that can once again compete on a global stage." Drivers for the races have not yet been announced.

The GT's debut at Le Mans comes with huge expectations, considering Ford's success in past races. Fifty years ago, Ford GT race cars swept the podium winning first, second, and third place at the 1966 running of Le Mans. Ford went on to repeat its victory at Le Mans over each of the next three years.

Check out the gallery below for more photos of the Ford GT race car.