Who is the main antagonist and racing rival in Pixar's Cars 3?

Jackson Storm is the main antagonist and racing rival in Pixar's Cars 3.

Storm is a highly advanced next-generation race car whose speed and data-driven training allow him to dominate the Piston Cup season. His arrival represents a changing era in racing: established competitors such as Lightning McQueen are suddenly being outperformed by cars designed with newer technology and more efficient methods.

Storm's confidence becomes arrogance, especially when he dismisses the older generation of racers. His rivalry with McQueen drives the film's central question: whether experience, adaptability, and teamwork can compete with raw modern performance.

Unlike Chick Hicks, the aggressive rival from the first Cars, Storm is not primarily defined by reckless physical tactics. He is a cool, calculated competitor whose design emphasizes a sleek, aerodynamic future. The character is voiced by Armie Hammer, while Lightning McQueen is voiced by Owen Wilson.