Cars 3 features Lightning McQueen mentoring Cruz Ramirez.
Cruz is a high-performance trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center who initially helps Lightning prepare for a new generation of racers. She is younger than Lightning and has strong technical knowledge, but she has not realized her own potential as a competitive racer. Their relationship changes as Lightning learns from her while also encouraging her to pursue her own ambitions.
The film’s story centers on Lightning’s response to Jackson Storm, a technologically advanced rookie who quickly dominates the racing circuit. Lightning first tries to regain his position through modern training methods, then discovers that a successful future may involve passing knowledge to another racer.
Cruz is voiced by Cristela Alonzo in the English-language version. Cars 3 was directed by Brian Fee and released in 2017. The film’s climax reframes mentorship as a continuation of racing legacy rather than simply a sign that Lightning has been defeated.