Right after doing a rocket start, drift to the left and stay very close to the wall. Hold this drift around the turn and collect the coins ahead.
Release your previous drift you were holding to cut the corner of the next turn. You’ll speed boost right over the lava! Make sure you’re not too far out from the corner, though, or you’ll fall directly into the lava, losing all of your Mushrooms for boosting, along with valuable seconds off the clock.
When approaching the two Thwomps, begin a drift to go right between them. Hold this drift around the next corner and continue holding it until you see the next straightaway.
When you hit this straightaway, keep holding your drift while using one of your Mushrooms for a speed boost. This will help speed you through this hazardous area with Thwomps and portions of the gravel on the track that slow you down.
Right before the straightaway ends, when you see the Thwomps, release your drift for a speed boost. As soon as you release the drift, begin a drift to the left and go right between the Thwomps while collecting the coins around them. Hold the drift until you reach the next straightaway, and release it right before reaching the dash panel ahead of you.
As you go through the dash panels along the straightaway, hop as you cross over each one for a speed boost. This will help you get down this long straightaway much quicker.
Drift as soon as you go through the long straightaway. The finish line is ahead of you. Alternate drifting left and right while going around the bends in this last stretch, and try to get Mini-Turbos if possible. Just make sure you don’t hit the walls!
Tactics for Laps 2 and 3
After you complete the first lap, a ramp appears near the Lava Bubbles. Use its glide panel to glide through the area. Beyond this change, use the same tactics to complete the remaining laps.