In Pixar's Cars 3, which racer becomes Lightning McQueen's main modern rival?

In Pixar's Cars 3, Jackson Storm becomes Lightning McQueen's main modern rival.

Storm is a sleek, high-tech rookie racer whose performance exposes the widening gap between Lightning's generation and a new wave of competitors. He uses advanced training, data analysis, and an aerodynamic design that make him dramatically faster than many established racers. His black-and-blue appearance contrasts with Lightning's familiar red body.

The rivalry drives the film's central conflict. After a crash damages Lightning's confidence and career, he attempts to adapt rather than simply repeat the methods that made him successful earlier. His training includes work with Cruz Ramirez, whose role becomes increasingly important to the story.

Jackson Storm is sometimes confused with Chick Hicks, Lightning's principal rival in the first Cars movie. Chick is a green veteran associated with the earlier Piston Cup storyline, while Storm represents the newer technological era introduced in Cars 3.