Jackson Storm defeats Lightning McQueen in the opening race of Pixar’s Cars 3.
Storm is a sleek, technologically advanced next-generation racer whose speed and training methods expose the widening gap between Lightning’s generation and the new competitors. After Storm wins, Lightning suffers a serious crash while trying to catch him. The event begins Lightning’s search for a new approach to racing and leads him to trainer Cruz Ramirez.
Jackson Storm is voiced by Armie Hammer. His character is designed as a contrast to Lightning: Storm relies on modern simulation, data, and optimized performance, while Lightning must rediscover confidence and purpose. The film’s opening race is not the same event as the Florida 500 from the first Cars. Chick Hicks is the rival from the original film, and Francesco Bernoulli is the major racing opponent in Cars 2.