In Pixar’s Cars 2, what is the name of Lightning McQueen’s spy-car rival?

Francesco Bernoulli is Lightning McQueen’s spy-car rival in Pixar’s Cars 2.

Francesco is an Italian Formula-style race car who competes against McQueen in the World Grand Prix. He is highly confident, theatrical, and proud of his speed. Their rivalry supplies the racing storyline while Mater becomes involved in the film’s international espionage plot.

Francesco is voiced by John Turturro. The character’s appearance draws on open-wheel racing design rather than the stock-car shape associated with McQueen’s Piston Cup career. The World Grand Prix takes the racers to locations including Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London.

Francesco is often confused with Finn McMissile, the British spy voiced by Michael Caine, or Professor Zündapp, the German scientist connected to the villains. Those characters belong to the espionage side of Cars 2. Francesco is the flamboyant competitor who challenges McQueen on the track and repeatedly refers to himself in the third person.