Madrid Drive
Gran Via in Madrid Drive 1.
View of Gran Vía
Information
Appears in Mario Kart Tour (2023)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Booster Course Pass, Wave 6) (2023)
Cup(s) Spiny Cup
Tour(s)
Madrid Drive:
Summer Tour (2023)
Madrid Drive 2:
Summer Tour (2023)
Madrid Drive 3:
Anniversary Tour (2023)
Based on Madrid, Spain
Music sample
Mario Kart Tour
Normal

Stadium

Museum
Course map
Mario Kart Tour
Madrid Drive
Map for Madrid Drive in Mario Kart Tour
Madrid Drive 2
Map for Madrid Drive 2 in Mario Kart Tour
Madrid Drive 3
Map of Madrid Drive 3 from Mario Kart Tour

Madrid Drive is a race course in Mario Kart Tour. It is named after and inspired by the city of Madrid, Spain. It is the fourteenth and last real world city course added to the game. The course takes racers through many landmarks of the city such as the Puerta del Sol and the Puerta de Alcalá. The course has three routes, Madrid Drive, Madrid Drive 2, and Madrid Drive 3; the first two debuted together in the 2023 Summer Tour while the third route debuted two tours later in the 2023 Anniversary Tour - Madrid Drive is the third city course in a row to not debut in a tour named after its respective city and is also the city to have the shortest gap between separate releases of routes. The first route takes racers to the Gran Vía and Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the second route features Retiro Park, Plaza Mayor and the Market of San Miguel, and the third route features the Prado Museum and Atocha station. Additionally, the second route starts in the opposite direction compared to the other two. The course is the seventh course set in a European city. The course features Shoe Goombas playing soccer, Wigglers and Thwomps. The fences seen across this course use the same color scheme as the ones seen in Berlin Byways, albeit in a slightly different pattern. The starting line for the course resembles the gate for the Royal Palace of Madrid.

The course's music heavily utilizes acoustic guitars and claps; reminiscing traditional Spanish flamenco music, or palo. It is the second city course after Singapore Speedway to feature an alternative version of its theme - namely, when entering the stadium in its first layout, the song is replaced with a version based on a cheering crowd (although this is absent in Coin Rush). A third version of the music is used when players enter the Prado Museum.

Madrid Drive returns in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the first course of the Spiny Cup in the Booster Course Pass.

Mario Kart Tour

The city course's routes in relation to each other.

Madrid Drive

The first route for the course begins in the Puerta del Sol. After a very brief straightaway, racers progress through the Calle de Preciados, and driving beneath the Segovia Viaduct, racers take a left turn that goes round almost 270 degrees, passing the Market of San Miguel and avoiding a pair of Goombas. They then drive along the top of the viaduct towards Gran Vía, passing the streets own landmarks before heading into the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Avoiding Shoe Goombas and soccer balls, racers drive through the pitch before driving through a goal, taking them to Calle de Alcalá, taking a right turn to return to the Puerta del Sol. One last slight right bend is taken before racers reach the finish line.

The course also appears as Madrid Drive R (reversed), Madrid Drive T (with ramps), and Madrid Drive R/T (reversed with ramps). In all three variants, Shoe Goombas appear in different locations and have different behavior. In the T and R/T variants, there is a glide ramp near the Segova Viaduct, and the nearby Goombas are gone.

Appearances

For this course's tour appearances, see List of Madrid Drive tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour § Madrid Drive.

Top-tier and middle-tier items

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which Madrid Drive and its variants are always favored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, see List of Madrid Drive tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Course Three-item drivers Bonus points ×2 karts Combo bonus ×3 gliders Two-item drivers Bonus points ×1.5 karts Combo bonus ×2 gliders
 
Normal variant
                                                                  **    
       
        
 
R variant
                                                          **          *      
                    
 
 
T variant
                                                                                        
     
   
 
R/T variant
                                       **  **                                   
           
 
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3.
** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.

Bonus challenges

Ring Race
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Lemmy
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 30
  • 35
  • 40
Summer Tour (2023)  
Mii Cup
Goomba Takedown
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Item Box
type found
Number of item slots Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Monty Mole
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
 
Mega Mushroom
1
  • 20
  • 25
  • 30
Summer Tour (2023)  
Lakitu Cup
Time Trial
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Fire Bro
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 1:45.00
  • 1:39.00
  • 1:33.00
Summer Tour (2023)  
Daisy Cup

Madrid Drive 2

The course's second route begins in the opposite direction compared to the first. Just like in the first route, players begin in Puerta del Sol, but this time head towards the Cybele Palace. Racers turn left and drive beneath the arches of the Puerta de Alcalá, using a ramp to jump over the grass that surrounds it. Soon, racers turn right and head to Retiro Park, taking a glide ramp to glide over the park's large pond, which has water geysers erupting from it. Upon landing, racers turn right to pass both the Atocha station and the Prado Museum. Racers drive past many theaters, restaurants and other facilities before entering the Plaza Mayor. Here, a pair of Wigglers circle the statue of King Philip III. Once racers exit the square, they drive towards the Market of San Miguel and avoid the pair of Thwomps inside, before coming out next to the Segovia Viaduct. Racers then drive down the road via a large right turn before entering the Calle de Preciados, before returning to Puerta del Sol, and then reaching the finish line.

The course also appears as Madrid Drive 2R (reversed), Madrid Drive 2T (with ramps), and Madrid Drive 2R/T (reversed with ramps). In all three variants, the Wigglers are gone and much more of the space in the Plaza Mayor is taken up by tables. In the R and R/T variants, Cheep Cheeps jump out of the pond in Retiro Park. In the T variant, there is a third Thwomp, found just before the arches of the Puerta de Alcalá, and the gliding section is gone. In the R/T variant, there are six Thwomps throughout the course.

Appearances

For this course's tour appearances, see List of Madrid Drive 2 tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour § Madrid Drive 2.

Top-tier and middle-tier items

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which Madrid Drive 2 and its variants are always favored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, see List of Madrid Drive 2 tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Course Three-item drivers Bonus points ×2 karts Combo bonus ×3 gliders Two-item drivers Bonus points ×1.5 karts Combo bonus ×2 gliders
 
Normal variant
                                 *                                       
        
 
 
R variant
                                                                                    
                
 
T variant
                                                                                     *      
   
  
 
R/T variant
                                                                                     
      
    
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3.
** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.

Madrid Drive 3

The third route begins in the same direction as the first, in Puerta del Sol. This time, after the straightaway, racers turn left onto the Calle de Cuchilleros, going upwards before descending and driving past multiple buildings, such as Cebada Market and Sobrino de Botín. After a large left turn, racers drive up some stairs to enter the Plaza Mayor, circling right around the statue of King Philip III until reaching the exit. Racers drive down a wide road until eventually turning right to go inside Atocha station. After descending a conveyor belt and taking a sharp left U-turn, racers leave the train station before immediately taking a slight right to enter the Prado Museum, which houses numerous paintings of various characters. Racers turn left in front of a Piranha Plant inside a torn painting before leaving the museum. Racers then turn right, returning to Puerta del Sol, before taking one last left turn leading to the finish line.

The course also appears as Madrid Drive 3R (reversed), Madrid Drive 3T (with ramps), and Madrid Drive 3R/T (reversed with ramps). In the R variant, there are two Piranha Plants in the Atocha station and a pair of Whomps in the Plaza Mayor. In the T variant, there is one Piranha Plant in the train station and two in the Plaza Mayor. In the R/T variant, there are Inky Piranha Plants throughout the course instead of Piranha Plants; one is in the torn painting in the museum, one is in the train station, and two are in the beds of stationary pickup trucks just before the final turn.

Bonus challenges

Smash Small Dry Bones
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Wario
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 8
  • 12
  • 16
Anniversary Tour (2023)  
Metal Mario Cup
Time Trial
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Mario
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 1:52.00
  • 1:44.00
  • 1:36.00
Anniversary Tour (2023)  
Donkey Kong Cup

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

This section is referring to a subject in an upcoming or recently released DLC wave. When the DLC wave is released, or more information about this subject is found, this section may need major rewriting.
This notice should be removed after a month has passed since the DLC wave was first released.

 
Madrid Drive in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Madrid Drive reappears in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, as part of the sixth and final wave of the Booster Course Pass DLC. It appears as the first course of the Spiny Cup, and has received significant visual improvements compared to its Mario Kart Tour iteration. The first lap is based on Madrid Drive 3, the second lap is based on Madrid Drive 2R, and the final lap is based on the first route of Madrid Drive. This makes it the only city course in the game to have its laps traverse its Tour variants in reverse order. The remaining Wiggler in Plaza Mayor now sleeps on Lap 1 before waking up during Lap 2, with the other being removed; it also faces the other direction to match the 2R route. Additionally, the smaller body of water players drove over from Tour has been covered up. Dash Panels have been added inside the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Castanets have been added to the course's music.[1]

It is one of three Mario Kart Tour courses to appear in the sixth wave, alongside Tour Rome Avanti and Piranha Plant Cove.

Gallery

Mario Kart Tour

Madrid Drive

Course icons
Screenshots

Madrid Drive 2

Course icons
Screenshots

Madrid Drive 3

Course icons
Screenshots

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese マドリード グランデ[?]
Madorīdo Gurande
Madrid Grande
Transliteration of "Big Madrid" in Spanish
Chinese (simplified) 马德里圣殿[?]
Mǎdélǐ Shèng Diàn
Madrid Sanctuary
Chinese (traditional) 馬德里聖殿[?]
Mǎdélǐ Shèng Diàn
Madrid Sanctuary
Dutch Madrid-Rit[?] Madrid Ride
French Méandres madrilènes[?] Madrilenian Meanders
German Stadtrundfahrt Madrid[?] City Tour of Madrid
Italian Movida di Madrid[?] Madrid Movida
Korean 마드리드 그란데[?]
Madeurideu Geurande
Madrid Grande
Portuguese (NOA) Madri em Disparada[?] Madrid on the Run
Portuguese (NOE) Passeio por Madrid[?] Stroll around Madrid
Spanish Paseo por Madrid[?] Stroll around Madrid

Trivia

  • Some of the landmarks in this course are based on their past or future designs.
    • Puerta del Sol is based on its design prior to a renovation which started in 2022 before the course's release, in which the fountains, the glass metro station entrance, and the road with this course's starting line were demolished.
    • One of the Gate of Europe towers has a logo which resembles that of Caja Madrid, a bank that went defunct in 2010.
    • The design of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is based on a renovation that is, as of the course's release, yet to be completed.
  • A couple of Madrid's famous billboards have been changed.

References

  1. ^ GameXplain (November 1, 2023). NEW Gameplay + Music of All 8 Tracks in Wave 6 of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course DLC! (JP Site). YouTube. Retrieved November 1, 2023.