Lightning McQueen enters the World Grand Prix in Pixar's Cars 2.
The World Grand Prix is organized by Miles Axlerod to promote Allinol, a new alternative fuel. It gives the sequel an international structure, moving the action from the American racing world of the first film to major locations overseas.
The competition includes races in Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London. McQueen competes against racers including Francesco Bernoulli, an Italian Formula-style champion who becomes one of his most prominent rivals.
The World Grand Prix is not the same championship as the Piston Cup. The Piston Cup is the domestic stock-car series associated with McQueen's original career, while the World Grand Prix is a separate international event created for Cars 2. That distinction is important because the sequel changes both the setting and the type of racing on screen.