To unlock Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally in Mario Kart World‘s Knockout Tour, update the game to version 1.7.0, clear at least one existing Knockout Tour rally, and both new rallies appear in the route selection menu.
Version 1.7.0 quietly slots two extra routes into Knockout Tour, and they don’t cost a thing to reach. There’s no store page, no premium currency, and no drawn-out grind — you just update, play one rally the way you normally would, and the pair shows up ready to race. Here’s exactly what triggers the unlock, what each new rally runs through, and the mix-ups worth avoiding.
The one condition that unlocks both rallies
Both routes are part of a free title update, so there is no separate purchase, ticket, or in-game currency attached to them. Once you’re on version 1.7.0, the only thing standing between you and the new content is a single Knockout Tour run — clear one existing rally and you’re done. You do not need to work through all eight of the launch rallies.
Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally unlock together from that same clear, so there’s nothing to do twice. Any normal completion of a rally counts, so treat this as “finish one run” rather than anything stricter.
How to unlock Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally
The whole process takes one race and a couple of menus. Follow it in order and the two rallies will be waiting on the route selection screen.
STEP 1/5
Update to version 1.7.0
Grab the free Mario Kart World update from the eShop or let the system apply it, then boot the game on ver. 1.7.0.
STEP 2/5
Open Knockout Tour
From the main menu, head into Knockout Tour, the multi-race elimination mode.
STEP 3/5
Clear one existing rally
Play and finish any one of the eight launch rallies — Golden Rally, Ice Rally, or whichever you like.
STEP 4/5
Return to route selection
Back out to the Knockout Tour rally list once the run wraps up.
STEP 5/5
Pick Drill Rally or Boomerang Rally
Both new routes now sit alongside the originals, ready to race.
You don’t need to beat all eight launch rallies — clear any single Knockout Tour rally after updating and both Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally unlock at once.
What Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally actually add
| Rally | Route |
|---|---|
| Drill Rally | Wario Shipyard → DK Pass → Dandelion Depths → Mario Circuit → Dry Bones Burnout → Bowser’s Castle |
| Boomerang Rally | Peach Beach → Cheep Cheep Falls → Moo Moo Meadows → Choco Mountain → Mario Bros. Circuit → Whistlestop Summit |
These are new Knockout Tour routes stitched across the existing map, not brand-new standalone circuits. Each one links six courses you already own into a fresh elimination gauntlet, which pushes the mode’s total from eight rallies to ten. Drill Rally is the ninth route and carries a Drill Mushroom emblem; Boomerang Rally is the tenth, introduced in the same update.
The Drill Rally line runs diagonally across the map, from Wario Shipyard out to Bowser’s Castle, crossing snow, forest, and volcanic terrain along the way. Boomerang Rally’s reported course order is below as well, though its exact sequence is worth taking as the reported order rather than the final word, since the available details didn’t line up perfectly.
Common mistakes players make with the new rallies
The biggest one is assuming these are all-new tracks with fresh geometry — they aren’t. Both rallies remix courses that already exist in the game into new elimination sequences, so don’t go hunting for a new circuit. The second trap is expecting a paywall: there are no coins, tickets, character unlocks, or item requirements gating either route.
Finally, plenty of players think every launch rally has to be cleared first. In practice a single completed rally is all it takes, and updating alone won’t do it — you still need that one run before the routes appear.
What to check after the rallies appear
With both routes unlocked, the natural follow-ups are the full version 1.7.0 patch notes and the complete Knockout Tour rally list, now ten deep. It’s also worth sorting out a kart and character setup that holds up across Drill Rally’s mixed snow, forest, and volcanic stretches, since one build won’t feel ideal on every leg.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally cost money?
No. Both arrive as part of the free version 1.7.0 update, with no separate purchase, premium currency, or tickets involved.
Do you have to clear all eight original Knockout Tour rallies?
No. Clearing just one of the launch rallies after updating is enough to unlock both new routes.
Do the new rallies add brand-new tracks?
No. Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally are new routes that run through existing courses, not new circuits with fresh track geometry.
Can you unlock both rallies by clearing the same Knockout Tour rally?
Yes. A single rally clear unlocks Drill Rally and Boomerang Rally together, so you don’t have to complete separate conditions for each.
Are more Knockout Tour rallies confirmed after these two?
Nintendo has indicated more routes are coming in the future, but the exact number beyond these two isn’t settled, so treat any specific count as unconfirmed for now.
