Mario Kart: Super Circuit / Tracks / Special Cup

This is it, the championship of kart racing, the Special Cup. Over the next four races, Lakeside Park, Broken Pier, Bowser Castle 4, and Rainbow Road, your skills will be tested more than ever. Since you've had to earn Gold Trophies in each of the previous Cups to get here, these last four courses require that you be on top of your game. These courses are tough, plain and simple.


Lakeside Park

Map Numbers
1. Take these turns tight and resist the urge to power-slide too far through them, as it will cause you to be out of position for the next turn.

2. Keep your eyes peeled for volcanic rocks along this stretch. Enter the straight-away on the left and then move over to the right once you grab the Coins.

3. Take this hairpin slowly and approach the right-hand Dash Pad straight on. Start flying to the right when you're air-borne to bounce off the jump strips in the water. Land on the road near the finish line to complete the shortcut.

4. No less than eight Coins and a Dash Pad will try to lure you into a strip booby trap near the course boundary here. Take the turn slowly and skip the Dash Pad unless you're in total control of your kart.

Note: There are 50 coins in this course.

Course Overview
Lakeside Park bears a striking resemblance to Riverside Park, the third course in the game. But looks are where the similarities end. Not only does the Lakeside Park course boast more twist and turns, but many of them are also lined with jump strips. Rather than sliding into the grass when you're taking a turn too wide, here you'll get bounced over the course boundary and have to repeat an earlier portion of the track.

Hazards
You might think that falling in the water would be the biggest hazard on a course with a name like Lakeside Park. If only it was that simple. It's not what's on the ground that's a threat; it's what's falling from the sky - volcanic rocks! While Mario and company may not let a little thing like a volcanic eruption stop them from racing, you will have to be on your toes to avoid the red-hot projectiles.


Broken Pier

Map Numbers
1. If you have a Mushroom handy, you'll want to take advantage of this shortcut. Activate the Mushroom just as you reach the Coin nearest the edge of the pier. This will send you soaring to the platform middle of the chasm. From there, you'll perform a second jump to the far side of the track.

2. Take it easy entering these turns since one wrong move can bounce you over the edge. You'll want to practice a bit through this stretch before trying to take full advantage of the jump strips near the corners.

3. Hit the left-hand Dash Pad in the center and let it propel you across the bridge in the distance for a quick shortcut. Watch out for ghosts!

4. This is another tricky section of the course. Steer clear of the Dash Pad unless you want to be catapulted into, and possibly through, the guardrail.

Note: There are 50 coins in this course.

Course Overview
Broken Pier is undeniably one of the most difficult courses in Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Tight turns, numerous holes in the road, and jump strips and Dash Pads around every bend all do their best to shake you off the pier and into the dark abyss below. Throw in a couple shortcuts that tempt you into coming even closer to the edge, and it's a wonder that one can survive this course at all.

Hazards
The biggest danger at Broken Pier is falling off the course. Aside from the holes in the track and the errant leap across lengthy gaps, there is little in the way of guardrails on this course; and what's there is breakable. In addition to falling, there is also the threat of running into a ghost. Unlike the ghosts at Boo Lake, these are not of a friendly demeanor. Steer clear of the ghosts to avoid being slowed down.

- Falling: Lose two Coins and plummet to the ground.
- Ghosts: Lose five Coins and be forced to slow down.


Bowser Castle 4

Map Numbers
1. The fastest way through this section is also the safest. Stick to the center and be ready to bump the competition into the lava.

2. Swing wide through these two turns to clip the inside corner of the Dash Pad on the far side of the track. You can drive around the lava pit to hit the Dash Pad straight on, but it's not as fast.

3. Slow down as you go into this turn and hug the right-hand wall to line up with the two Dash Pads. Watch out for jump strips in front of the lava pit, as they'll bump you into the fire.

4. Stick to the right as you go through the jumps to skip the turns you otherwise have to make.

5. Look ahead to where the Koopas are and try to drive either behind them if they're just leaving the walls or between them if they're approaching the walls.

6. Power-slide turbo through this turn to get a boost into the final stretch.

Course Overview
Bowser Castle 4 is a very tricky course to win, let alone break the Time Trial record. Winning here requires a mastery of high-speed driving through tight stretches of road lined with hazards so dangerous that even Bowser himself gets a little nervous. As usual, all the turns are 90 degree angles, thus making it more difficult to power-slide.

Hazards
The same threats are back for a fourth trip, but with one little extra: Koopas! There's a short expanse of road not too far before the final stretch where three Koopas flutter back and forth across the track. This added dose of danger isn't the only one to grace Bowster Castle 4. The block statues that threaten to smash you into a pancake move around quite quickly, so you have to really keep an eye on them this time.

- Block Statues: Lose eight Coins and get flattened.
- Flames: Lose four Coins and spin out of control.
- Lava: Lose two Coins and sink.
- Koopas: Lose four Coins and spin out of control.


Rainbow Road

Map Numbers
1. Activate a Mushroom just before you hit this jump strip to get propelled across the gap onto the track in the distance. Angle your kart to the right while you're airborne.

2. Keep away from the edges of the road here, as this is where the stars are most likely to fall. Pay attention to which rows of Coins you grab in order to be in good position on the next lap.

3. Don't be afraid to let up on the gas as you're weaving through this section. Tapping the brakes before each turn isn't a bad idea, either.

4. Drive into the angled jump strip of road here. Keep the kart straight and off to jump strips to build speed through the Dash Pads. Drive straight across the road and into the jump strip in the distance to catapult your kart across the sky and onto the road around the bend.

5. Hit the right-hand Dash Pad and then swerve to the left to gain even more speed off the second Dash Pad.

6. Even if it means coming to a stop to line up with the Dash Pads on the right, don't pass them by!<

Note: There are 50 coins in this course.

Course Overview
This is it, the final Super Circuit course in Mario GP, and boy is it tough! The Rainbow Road course takes you out of Bowser's dungeon and miles into the night sky to compete in a race that is literally out of this world. Only those racers who can handle the tremendous speed on the extended straight-aways will have a chance to triumph here.

Hazards
Unlike the Sky Garden course, where you merely had to avoid falling off the clouds top stay in one piece, Rainbow Road contains several additional dangers to keep you on your toes. Aside from the lack of guardrails, you will need to dodge lightning-rich storm clouds and falling stars. You see, the course is so far up into heavens that even extraterrestrial bodies are a threat to you. The only star you'll be wishing on in this course is the one that doesn't hit your kart.

- Falling: Lose two Coins and plunge off the track.
- Lightning: Lose four Coins, spin out of control and be shrunken for a short period of time.
- Falling Stars: Lose four Coins and spin out of control.

Please continue to the Extra Tracks!