Who is the main rival racer Jackson Storm in Pixar's Cars 3?

Lightning McQueen is Jackson Storm's main rival racer in Pixar's Cars 3.

Storm represents a new generation of high-performance racers who use advanced training, data, and modern technology. His speed quickly makes him the leading threat to McQueen, whose career has been built on experience and traditional racing skill.

The rivalry drives the movie's central conflict. After a crash during a race, McQueen worries that he can no longer compete with cars like Storm. He begins training with Cruz Ramirez, first at a modern racing center and later through a more personal series of lessons connected to Doc Hudson's past.

Jackson Storm is not the same rival as Chick Hicks, McQueen's principal antagonist in the original Cars. Storm is introduced specifically in Cars 3, while Chick Hicks is the green race car who competes against McQueen in the first film. Cruz eventually becomes crucial to the resolution of McQueen's rivalry with Storm.