In Pixar’s Cars 2, the racing driver Francesco Bernoulli is from Italy.
Francesco is a Formula-style champion and Lightning McQueen’s principal rival in the World Grand Prix. He is designed with an open-wheel racing profile and speaks with an Italian accent. His confidence and theatrical self-promotion create a sharp contrast with Lightning’s more grounded personality.
Francesco grew up racing at the Monza circuit in Italy, where he became a champion. Monza is one of the world’s best-known motor-racing venues, so the reference connects the fictional racer to a real Italian racing tradition. He later competes against Lightning in Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London.
Francesco is voiced by John Turturro in the English version of Cars 2. His nationality is sometimes confused with the film’s other international characters, such as British spy Finn McMissile or German scientist Professor Zündapp.