Pixar’s Cars 2 shows three main World Grand Prix races.
The races are held in Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London. Together they form the international sporting event created by Miles Axlerod, whose stated goal is to demonstrate the value of Allinol alternative fuel.
The first race takes place in Tokyo, the second in the fictional Italian coastal city of Porto Corsa, and the final race takes place in London. The changing locations allow the film to combine racing with an international spy adventure involving Mater, Finn McMissile, and Holley Shiftwell.
The races also structure the movie’s mystery. The sabotage affecting Allinol-powered cars appears to be a technical failure at first, but the incidents are part of a larger conspiracy. The London race becomes the setting for the major confrontation and the exposure of the plot behind the World Grand Prix.