Cars 3 is the 2017 Pixar film in which Lightning McQueen faces Jackson Storm.
The film presents McQueen as an established champion whose career is threatened by a new generation of highly advanced racers. Jackson Storm, a sleek next-generation competitor, wins races through a combination of speed, technology, and modern training methods.
McQueen begins training with Cruz Ramirez, a technician and trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center. Their relationship gradually changes as Cruz’s own racing ability becomes important to the story. The film explores mentorship, aging, competition, and the possibility of passing a racing legacy to someone else.
Cars 3 was directed by Brian Fee and released in the United States on June 16, 2017. It is the third main feature in the Cars film series, following Cars in 2006 and Cars 2 in 2011.