Mario Raceway:
Go partially through the level in any mode except time trials. After you have done a couple of turns, you will go straight. Immediately before you turn, you can use a Golden Mushroom and hop over the side. This shortcut is difficult, and requires practice to master.

On Mario Raceway, there is a shortcut which you can use to complete a lap in about 29 seconds. To do it, you need a mushroom. Do the first three turns and there should be a steep hill to one side. Where there is a slight bend in the track, drive up the hill as far as you can go and turn around. Start accelerating and use the mushroom. When you get to the course, wait until you are the opposite edge to where you just came on, and then jump off the course. Because it is sloped it will act like a ramp and you should go over the top of the wall and land near the pipe "tunnel". Continue with your lap and repeat this as many times as needed. You must master it before doing it in races. You may find yourself not going high enough or landing inside the wall, where Lukita will put you back where you started.

Rainbow Road:
Get up to top speed at the beginning of the track. Near the front, you will get to the top of a very steep hill. Stay all the way to the left and just when you get to the peak, quickly turn left and press R to jump. It is extremely difficult to accomplish, but if done correctly, you will land back on the track, half way through. This will bring you half a lap ahead of the other racers.

Try this in time trial mode first. Get a boost, and at the beginning of the race go to the right (using boost). As the slope goes down, sharply turn to the left then jump. You could bounce off when you land.

This trick takes a lot of practice to master but after awhile you should be able to do it without a problem. After the race starts, there is a huge drop. Before the drop, turn left (or right if it is the Extra GP) and jump at the same time. Turning too sharply will make you fly over the track, and not turning sharp enough will make you fall short of the track. If done correctly, you should land on a further part of the track and save a lot of time. If you bounce off the track, do not worry. You will be picked up and placed on the part of the track where you bounced.

When you reach the point just past the starting line where the course begins to angle down the huge hill, take a sharp left turn and use R to jump over the wall. Hold Analog-stick Left and you will fly in space until you reach the other part of the race track. You must be careful and get the correct timing or you may over or undershoot your target.

Toad's Turnpike:
At the start of the level in any mode, go a little bit forward immediately before you get to the place with items. Press C-Right to turn on the map and line up your Kart where it is directly overhead the track under you. Then, race toward the side (you should probably have a Mushroom or Star) and hop when you hit the railing. If done correctly, you should be halfway through that lap.

Wario Stadium:
Note the first bump right after starting a race at Wario Stadium. When the race starts, turn around and go back a short distance. Next, accelerate to the left side of the bump. Press R a couple of times when you are at the top of the bump. If done correctly, you will land on the other side of the wall, cutting off half or more of the race.

Go fast to the wall and press R to jump over it. You will skip about one-quarter of the track.

On the dip just before the jump (after the six small "whoopies"), stay to the right. You will reach the location where the road turns. This is also the place of the wall that you need to jump. Turn hard to your left once you reach the inside corner of that particular turn. Do a hop just before you hit the wall. If done correctly, you will bounce over the wall. This requires a lot of practice to master, but can save anywhere from 12 to 16 seconds.

You can jump over three walls to skip ahead about a half of a lap.

Go backwards and jump into the black and you will be in first place. You must have the required speed.

Use the following shortcut to complete a lap quickly. From the start, drive to the small dirt hills in front of you. Turn towards the wall on the left (50cc to 150cc cups) or the right (Extra cup). Drive to the wall, and just when you just about to hit it, press R. If done correctly, you will jump over that wall and get far ahead. You now have two choices. You can continue with the lap normally or you can jump the wall again and attempt to skip a lap. If you do try to skip a lap, drive over to where the lap flag is located, and position yourself so you will be behind the flag when you jump the wall. If done correctly you will land next to the finish line and can immediately go on the next lap. Repeat this two more times if desired. If you are an expert, you can finish the race in less than: 25 seconds.

Jump the fourth bump in the beginning of the lap. Do not jump the first bump as you normally would. While you are there on the other side, when you drive to the normal path you can see the other side and the lap. Practice the jump and the cameraman will pick you up, and if done correctly, you will be on the other side and complete the lap easily. If done wrong, you will remain on that side.

At the start of the race, leap over the final bump. If done correctly you will cut out almost half of the course. Then, you will see a Wario sign. Jump on the dirt near the pole of the sign. You will get stuck and appear at the finish line.

This is one of the longest tracks in the game, but it has a super shortcut that can cut a lot of time off your lap. It is possible to jump over the wall to the left of the starting line by using any one of the four small jumps there. Although you can make it over the wall without the assistance of any speed boosting item, a Mushroom or Mini-Turbo assist is helpful. Approach the wall at high speed so that you are driving directly at it as you reach the peak of the small hill. Jump just before you hit the wall and you will sail over. The timing requires some practice, but once you master it, it is not too difficult. It is also possible to jump back over the wall on the other side of the starting line, but the return jump is much more difficult and requires precise jump timing and aim.

Yoshi Valley:
Start racing and get to the area where all the routes combine. Go to the left until you see where the fence ends. After that, look down and you will see the other side of the track. Get to the location where the shortest jump is, then go back a little bit. Speed up, cut the wheel to that short jump area, and press R. If done correctly, you will then end up on that side of the track, giving yourself a lead. Note: You do not always have to stop; but doing so may help until you are used to the trick.

Take the path with the small bridge. Then, at the end (the grass), use a mushroom to cut through it diagonally to the finish line.

Once you come out of the maze (the shortest route is the one with all the porcupines), you will reach a hairpin bend in the road. Notice how the track gets close to itself and there are no barriers, and that the part you are on is higher than the other. Turn into this part and jump. You will cut a few seconds out of your lap. You have to be careful though. If you get the wrong angle you will just go off the lower part of the track. If you think that is going to happen, jam on the brakes in mid-air.

This course is a tangle, as shown in the introductory map. However, there are a few shortcuts that will allow you to defeat just about anybody. Follow the course until you hit the maze part. Immediately go left and remain to the left. The first part of the shortcut is to stay left and on the narrow part of the course. After managing to do that, you will hit a little checkered ledge, and see a big red and white sign on the left pointing to the right. This is the difficult part. Accelerate as fast as possible and stay to the far right. As soon as the rail on the left side ends, pull a hard left power slide off the road. You will continue the power slide onto the upcoming road after you land, and done correctly, you will have shaved off at least ten seconds or lead the pack. This requires a lot of practice.