In Pixar's Cars 3, which character takes over as a professional racer?

Cruz Ramirez takes over as a professional racer in Pixar's Cars 3.

Cruz begins the film as Lightning McQueen's high-performance trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center. Although she has racing ambitions, she lacks confidence and initially works behind the scenes. Training Lightning eventually reveals that she has the ability to compete herself.

During the film's climactic race, Cruz replaces Lightning and defeats Jackson Storm. She then becomes the new Rust-eze racer, while Lightning adopts a mentor role and continues racing in a different capacity. This change gives Cars 3 its central theme of passing experience from one generation to the next.

Cruz is voiced by Cristela Alonzo. Her role should not be confused with Sally Carrera, Lightning's friend and the town attorney in Radiator Springs, or Holley Shiftwell, the spy character from Cars 2.