In Pixar’s Cars, what is the name of the rookie race car who becomes Radiator Springs’ champion?

In Pixar’s Cars, the rookie race car who becomes Radiator Springs’ champion is Lightning McQueen.

Lightning begins the 2006 film as an ambitious Piston Cup competitor focused on fame, sponsorships, and winning. After damaging Radiator Springs during a nighttime chase, he is ordered to repair the town’s road before leaving. The work changes his priorities and introduces him to residents including Doc Hudson, Sally Carrera, and Mater.

The character’s name combines lightning imagery with the McQueen surname. He is a stylized red stock car with the number 95, a reference to 1995, the year Pixar released Toy Story. His racing career continues in Cars 2 and Cars 3, where he faces international competition and a younger generation of racers.

Lightning is voiced by Owen Wilson in the English-language films. A common mix-up is confusing him with Jackson Storm, the high-tech rival introduced in Cars 3, or Chick Hicks, his main Piston Cup rival in the first film.