In Pixar's Cars 2, what racing event is organized as a worldwide tour?

In Pixar's Cars 2, the worldwide racing event is the World Grand Prix.

The World Grand Prix is created by oil magnate Miles Axlerod to promote Allinol, a new alternative fuel. It sends the competitors through races in Japan, Italy, and England, giving the sequel a much broader setting than the original film's American road story.

Lightning McQueen enters the event, while Mater becomes involved in an international espionage plot after being mistaken for an American secret agent. The racing tour and the spy storyline run together, with the fuel controversy eventually becoming central to the film's conflict.

The World Grand Prix should not be confused with the Piston Cup. The Piston Cup is the championship series associated with the first film and Lightning's domestic racing career. Cars 2 uses the World Grand Prix to shift the series toward international locations and spy-movie conventions.