Which Italian sports car is the celebrated race rival of Lightning McQueen in Pixar's Cars 2?

Francesco Bernoulli is Lightning McQueen's celebrated Italian race rival in Pixar's Cars 2.

Francesco competes against Lightning in the World Grand Prix and is presented as a major international star. He is an open-wheel race car from Italy, with a confident personality and a strong belief in his own superiority. His rivalry gives the racing storyline a clear competitive focus as the event travels from Tokyo to Porto Corsa and London.

Francesco is voiced by John Turturro. His design reflects the appearance of Formula-style racing cars rather than the stock-car shape associated with Lightning. The character is not the same Italian vehicle as Luigi, the Fiat 500 who owns Radiator Springs' tire shop. That distinction matters because both characters are Italian, but Francesco is a professional racer while Luigi is a tire specialist and enthusiast.