Mario Kart 7: Grand Prix & Time Trials Part 1

When playing Time Trials, it allows you to choose a character out of the list of characters available to you and also select a kart, wheels and glider. You can then choose a race course out of the cups you have unlocked and you are timed racing 3 laps of the course you have chosen with no racers other than yourself. You can either race a Ghost Data from a previous Time Trial you have completed for that course, or race a Ghost Data of a Nintendo staff member. It is very simple! 

Grand Prix is a little different though! You become one of 8 racers and you can choose from either Mushroom, Flower, Shell and Banana Cups to start with. You race against the other characters but they are controlled by a computer, you are not racing against real people! 

The Grand Prix and Time Trials Modes for Mario Kart 7 are basically the same as the ones for Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Wii. 

Once you have successfully obtained first place in all 4 races for the Flower Cup, you will unlock the Star Cup and after obtaining first place in Star Cup you will then unlock Special Cup. This is the same for Banana Cup and Leaf Cup. When you come first place in Banana Cup you unlock Leaf Cup and after coming first in Leaf Cup you unlock the Lightning Cup. Then you will have unlocked every Cup available on that particular speed (speeds will be explained later). 

 See Mario Kart 7: Grand Prix & Time Trials Part 2 for more information on this!