Cars 3 was the first Pixar Cars film to feature a female character as a major racing driver.
Cruz Ramirez begins the film as a trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center, where she helps racers improve their performance. Her own talent becomes increasingly important as the story develops, and she ultimately takes a central role in professional competition.
Earlier Cars films included important female characters, especially Sally Carrera and Holley Shiftwell, but neither is presented as a principal professional racer in the same way. Sally is a town attorney, while Holley is a spy and field agent in Cars 2.
Cruz's arc is therefore more than a supporting-character detail. Cars 3 uses her racing potential to explore confidence, opportunity, mentorship, and the passing of a sporting legacy from McQueen to a new competitor.