In Pixar’s Cars 2, which villain is secretly the mastermind behind the World Grand Prix plot?

Sir Miles Axlerod is the secret mastermind behind the World Grand Prix plot in Pixar’s Cars 2.

Axlerod presents himself as a wealthy former oil baron and the organizer of the international race. He promotes Allinol, a supposedly clean alternative fuel, and uses the event to attract worldwide attention to it.

The film later reveals that Axlerod is actually directing a scheme involving electromagnetic pulse weapons. The plan is designed to make Allinol appear dangerous by causing cars using it to malfunction, allowing him to profit from the resulting public reaction.

Professor Zündapp is another major villain, but he is Axlerod’s associate rather than the central mastermind. This distinction is easy to miss because Zündapp appears more directly in several action scenes. Cars 2 was released in 2011 and shifts much of its focus toward espionage and international travel.