In Pixar’s Cars 3, the rookie racer who becomes Lightning McQueen’s main rival is Jackson Storm.
Jackson is a next-generation race car whose advanced design and training let him dominate the Piston Cup circuit. He represents the younger generation of racers replacing established competitors, and his success makes Lightning question whether he can still compete at the highest level.
The Rust-eze sponsorship belongs to Lightning McQueen in Cars 3, not Jackson Storm. Jackson is associated with Ignitr, the fictional sponsor displayed on his vehicle. Armie Hammer voices Jackson, while Owen Wilson voices Lightning.
Jackson’s rivalry is different from Chick Hicks’s rivalry in the first Cars film. Chick is an aggressive veteran competitor in that story, whereas Jackson is presented as a technologically advanced rookie whose performance drives Cars 3’s themes of changing eras and mentorship.