What race do the cars compete in during Pixar’s Cars 2?

The cars compete in the World Grand Prix during Pixar’s Cars 2.

The World Grand Prix is a three-race international competition created by billionaire industrialist Miles Axlerod. Its races take place in Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London, giving Cars 2 a broader setting than the first film’s mainly American road-trip story.

Lightning McQueen enters the event, while Mater becomes involved in an espionage plot after being mistaken for an undercover agent. The race is promoted as a showcase for Allinol, an alternative fuel whose safety becomes an important part of the film’s conflict.

The World Grand Prix is not the same competition as the Piston Cup from the first Cars film. The Piston Cup is a domestic stock-car championship modeled partly on NASCAR, whereas the World Grand Prix is an international event involving different racing environments and competitors.