What is the name of the villainous racer in Pixar's Cars 3?

Jackson Storm is the villainous racer in Pixar's Cars 3. He is a next-generation Piston Cup competitor whose advanced design, data-driven training, and speed make him a major threat to Lightning McQueen.

Storm represents a new era of racing technology. His sleek black body and modern aerodynamic shape contrast with Lightning's older, more traditional design. As more technologically advanced racers enter the series, Lightning struggles to keep pace and begins questioning whether his championship career can continue.

The rivalry drives the film's training story. Lightning works with Cruz Ramirez, a trainer who eventually becomes a racer herself, while he learns that mentoring and adapting can matter as much as raw speed. Storm's confidence and dismissive attitude make him the clearest antagonist on the track.

Chick Hicks is the principal rival in the first Cars film, and Francesco Bernoulli is Lightning's prominent opponent in Cars 2. Neither is the new-generation racer introduced as Lightning's chief competitor in Cars 3.