Which character wins the first race of the World Grand Prix in Pixar's Cars 2?

Francesco Bernoulli wins the first race of the World Grand Prix in Pixar's Cars 2.

The opening World Grand Prix race is held in Tokyo, Japan. Francesco, an Italian Formula One-style racer, defeats Lightning McQueen and establishes himself as McQueen's principal sporting rival during the film.

Francesco's confidence and exaggerated self-promotion contrast with McQueen's more familiar stock-car identity. Their rivalry continues through the later World Grand Prix races in Italy and England, although the spy plot eventually becomes more important than the sporting contest.

The race winner is sometimes confused with Shu Todoroki, a Japanese racer, or Lewis Hamilton, who appears as a character associated with the event. Neither is the winner of the Tokyo race; Francesco takes that opening victory.