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

Jackson Storm is the main rival rookie racer in Pixar's Cars 3.

Storm represents a new generation of high-performance racers that threatens the careers of established competitors such as Lightning McQueen. His advanced design, data-driven training, and speed allow him to dominate the early races of the film and make McQueen question whether he can remain competitive.

The character is voiced by Armie Hammer. Storm's sleek black-and-blue appearance contrasts with McQueen's familiar red design, emphasizing the film's conflict between an experienced champion and rapidly advancing technology.

Jackson Storm is not the same character as Chick Hicks from the first Cars. Chick is McQueen's aggressive rival in the original Piston Cup season, while Storm is introduced as a new competitor in Cars 3. Cal Weathers and Brick Yardley are also racers in the series, but neither serves as the principal modern threat in Cars 3.