Cars 2 introduced the character Francesco Bernoulli.
Francesco is an Italian Formula-style race car and one of Lightning McQueen’s major competitors in the World Grand Prix. He is confident, theatrical, and proud of his speed, creating a rivalry with McQueen during the international racing competition.
The character is voiced in English by John Turturro. His design and personality draw on the glamorous image of European open-wheel racing, while the film’s broader story moves the Cars franchise beyond Radiator Springs.
Francesco is not the villain of Cars 2. Miles Axlerod organizes the World Grand Prix as part of a larger plan, and Professor Zündapp assists him. Francesco is instead a rival racer who competes against McQueen on the track. He does not appear as a major character in Cars 3, which returns its focus to McQueen’s changing career and his partnership with Cruz Ramirez.