Which city hosts the first race in Pixar’s Cars 2?

Tokyo hosts the first race in Pixar’s Cars 2.

The World Grand Prix begins in Tokyo, Japan, where Lightning McQueen competes against international racers. The brightly lit nighttime setting introduces the sequel’s global scale and places the race alongside Mater’s accidental involvement in an espionage plot.

Cars 2 then moves its competition to other locations, including Porto Corsa in Italy and London in the United Kingdom. Because all three locations feature major races and action sequences, viewers sometimes confuse the opening venue with one of the later destinations. Tokyo is specifically the first stop in the World Grand Prix.

The film uses recognizable visual references to Tokyo, including dense city streets, neon lighting, and Japanese-inspired architecture. The location also helps establish the contrast between McQueen’s professional racing ambitions and Mater’s comic misadventures as international spies mistake him for a secret agent.