In Pixar’s Cars 3, what is the name of Lightning McQueen’s new racing number rival?

In Pixar’s Cars 3, Jackson Storm is Lightning McQueen’s new racing rival.

Jackson Storm is a next-generation Piston Cup racer whose advanced design, data-driven training, and powerful performance quickly make him the dominant competitor. His arrival begins the film’s central conflict: Lightning must decide whether he can adapt to a younger and faster generation or retire from competition.

Storm represents a new era of racing technology. He is sleek, aerodynamic, and built around performance advantages that traditional racers cannot easily match. His confident, dismissive attitude also contrasts with the mentorship and sportsmanship Lightning gradually rediscovers.

Armie Hammer provides Jackson Storm’s voice. Cars 3 was released in 2017 and serves as a more direct continuation of Lightning’s racing career than Cars 2, returning the story’s emphasis to competition, training, friendship, and legacy.