Super Mario Kart Cups and unlocks: Special Cup and 150cc
Find every Grand Prix course and the original progression requirements.
Edition covered
Original SNES rules and eight-driver roster. Later remakes of these tracks use different handling, items and layouts.
Special Cup follows the 100cc trophies
Win Mushroom, Flower and Star Cups at 100cc to unlock Special Cup. Then win Special Cup at 100cc to complete the set required for 150cc.
| Cup | Courses in race order | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Mushroom | Mario Circuit 1; Donut Plains 1; Ghost Valley 1; Bowser Castle 1; Mario Circuit 2 | Starting cup |
| Flower | Choco Island 1; Ghost Valley 2; Donut Plains 2; Bowser Castle 2; Mario Circuit 3 | Starting cup |
| Star | Koopa Beach 1; Choco Island 2; Vanilla Lake 1; Bowser Castle 3; Mario Circuit 4 | Starting cup |
| Special | Donut Plains 3; Koopa Beach 2; Ghost Valley 3; Vanilla Lake 2; Rainbow Road | Win the three 100cc cups |
Each cup has five races
The top four places score 9, 6, 3 and 1 points. In solo play, fifth or worse requires a retry. With two players, the race repeats if both finish outside the top four; protecting fourth can preserve progress.
| Goal | Requirement | Practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Special Cup | Gold in Mushroom, Flower and Star at 100cc | Check all three trophies |
| 150cc | Gold in all four 100cc cups | Include Special Cup |
| Continue a GP race | Finish first through fourth | Solo fifth through eighth costs a retry |
| Cup points | 9 / 6 / 3 / 1 for first through fourth | Track the nearest rival |
Lives limit retries
A driver finishing outside the top four loses a life from their attempt reserve. A clean early race is useful even when the championship is not yet under threat because it preserves room for later mistakes.
Distinguish original saves from special rereleases
Some rerelease special versions begin with content already unlocked. Their starting state does not change the original cartridge requirements documented here.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Nintendo game information or original manual | www.nintendo.com |
| Original-edition mechanics and reference | www.mariowiki.com |