In Pixar’s Cars 3, Jackson Storm is the main rival challenging Lightning McQueen’s generation.
Jackson Storm is a sleek, technologically advanced next-generation racer who quickly dominates the racing circuit. His speed and modern training methods expose the disadvantages faced by older competitors, including Lightning. Storm’s rise begins the central conflict of Cars 3 and pushes Lightning to reconsider how he can remain competitive.
Storm is different from Chick Hicks, Lightning’s principal rival in the first Cars, and Francesco Bernoulli, Lightning’s major racing rival in Cars 2. Cal Weathers is another racer connected to Lightning’s racing world, but he is not the film’s primary antagonist.
The rivalry eventually develops into a story about mentorship and succession. Lightning’s work with Cruz Ramirez becomes as important as his direct competition with Storm, giving the film a broader focus than a simple contest between two racers.