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Mario Circuit Mario Kart DS · Star Cup, race 3

Mario Circuit in Mario Kart DS
Mario Circuit course preview

A classic-style Mario circuit set beside the moat of Peach's Castle, with Goombas walking across the road and Piranha Plants lining the bends. The second half switches from tarmac to slippery dirt as it winds past the castle entrance.

Cup
Star Cup · race 3
Origin
New in Mario Kart DS
Laps
3
Staff ghost
1'56"533
Online play
Yes (until 2014)
Mario Circuit course map
Course map (overhead view)

Lap walkthrough

  1. Start by the lake surrounding Peach's Castle
  2. Through the first corner, avoid Goombas in the middle of the road; the right side has no rail above the moat
  3. Take the S-bend where two Fire Piranha Plants spit fireballs
  4. Drive through the Warp Pipe tunnel into a tight turn
  5. Switch onto dirt for another tight turn and the wavy road past the castle entrance and its Piranha Plants
  6. Finish with a last S-turn back to the start line

Racing tips

  • A single Mushroom lets you cut across the off-road beside the Fire Piranha Plant on the right.
  • The dirt section is slippery, so take it carefully to avoid sliding into the Piranha Plants.
  • Flattening a Goomba with a shell or Lightning makes it drop a Mushroom.

Hazards

GoombaGoombaPiranha PlantPiranha PlantVenus Fire TrapVenus Fire Trap

Also watch for: Fire Piranha Plants, Castle moat.

Staff ghost

Staff time
1'56"533
Beat to unlock
2'05"855
Racer
Mario
Staff name
Ninten★モリオ

Set a Time Trial record within 108% of the staff time to unlock the ghost. All staff ghost times.

Missions on Mario Circuit

  • Mission 5-8 Reach the finish before Mario! (Luigi)
  • Mission 7-4 Use shells to defeat all 30 Goombas within the time limit! (Toad, 2:00)

Full Mission Mode guide

Screenshots

Mario Circuit screenshot 1
Mario Circuit in Mario Kart DS
Mario Circuit screenshot 2
Mario Circuit in Mario Kart DS
Mario Circuit screenshot 3
Mario Circuit in Mario Kart DS

FAQ

What cup is Mario Circuit in?

The Star Cup, as race 3 of 4, in the Nitro Grand Prix.

How many laps is Mario Circuit?

3 laps.

What is the staff ghost time on Mario Circuit?

1'56"533, set with Mario in the Shooting Star. Finish a Time Trial in 2'05"855 or faster to race it.

Could you race Mario Circuit online?

Yes: it was one of the 20 courses on Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which closed on May 20, 2014.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against the Super Mario Wiki and the Mario Kart Racing Wiki. Kart statistics, staff ghost times and item odds are the values from the game data as transcribed by the Super Mario Wiki. Screenshots, renders and artwork © Nintendo; local copies archived from Super Mario Wiki file pages (listed on the image gallery).