In Pixar’s Cars 2, the World Grand Prix brings Lightning McQueen to Japan, Italy, and England.
The fictional competition is organized by Sir Miles Axlerod to promote Allinol, a new alternative fuel. McQueen enters the series after being challenged by Francesco Bernoulli, an Italian Formula-style racer, and the races move between major international locations.
The three principal race settings are Tokyo, Porto Corso, and London. Their different road layouts and visual styles give the sequel a much more global structure than the first Cars film, which centers largely on Radiator Springs and the Piston Cup.
The World Grand Prix is also tied to the film’s spy plot. Mater is mistaken for an American secret agent while international criminals attempt to manipulate the race and discredit alternative fuel. It is therefore both a sporting event and the mechanism that connects the movie’s racing and espionage stories.