Cars 3 introduces Cruz Ramirez as Lightning McQueen’s trainer.
Released in 2017, Cars 3 begins with Lightning struggling to compete against a new generation of faster racers led by Jackson Storm. Rust-eze sends him to a high-tech training center, where Cruz Ramirez is assigned to help him prepare. Cruz initially appears to be a trainer rather than a professional racer, but the film gradually reveals her own racing ability and ambitions.
Lightning’s relationship with Cruz becomes the emotional focus of the story. His training forces him to confront age, changing technology, and the possibility that his career may be ending. Cruz, meanwhile, must overcome her belief that she does not belong on the track.
The film shifts the franchise’s emphasis from Lightning proving himself to Lightning helping another racer find confidence. Cruz eventually becomes a major competitor and carries forward the racing legacy that Lightning helped protect.