Mario Kart World included seven Grand Prix cups before the Special Cup.
The main Grand Prix selection is organized around seven themed cups: Mushroom, Flower, Star, Shell, Banana, Leaf and Lightning. Each cup contains four courses, creating a structured set of traditional competitions within the game's much larger connected world.
The seven standard cups are separate from the Special Cup. Completing the regular Grand Prix progression unlocks the colorful Rainbow Road course through the Special Cup, giving experienced players an additional challenge beyond the initial cup lineup.
This arrangement differs from the way Mario Kart World presents its open world and Knockout Tour. In Grand Prix, racers still work through cup-based competitions, but they drive between courses rather than treating each race as an entirely isolated event. That connected travel is one of the game's major departures from earlier entries.