In Pixar's Cars 2, the international racing series is called the World Grand Prix.
The competition is organized by Sir Miles Axlerod and takes racers to several locations, including Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London. Lightning McQueen enters the event, while Mater becomes involved in the film's spy storyline after mistaking espionage for ordinary friendship.
The World Grand Prix is distinct from the Piston Cup, which is the domestic stock-car championship associated with the first Cars film. That change in setting gives Cars 2 a broader international scale and lets the story visit recognizable landmarks outside Radiator Springs.
The races also connect to the film's conflict over Allinol, an alternative fuel promoted by Axlerod. As a result, the event is both a sports spectacle and a central part of the movie's mystery plot.