Finke Desert Race committee allows regional Victorian racers to re-enter event following new health advice

REGIONAL Victorians who had to withdraw from racing at the 2021 Finke Desert Race will be allowed to re-enter the event until 5pm ACST on Wednesday, June 9.

• Chief health officer revokes regional Victoria’s Covid-19 hotspot status
• The Finke Desert Race is back in Alice Springs from June 11 to 14

REGIONAL Victorians who had to withdraw from racing at the 2021 Finke Desert Race will be allowed to re-enter the event until 5pm ACST on Wednesday, June 9.

In a statement, a spokesman for the Finke Desert Race said they welcomed the NT’s acting chief health officer’s decision to revoke regional Victoria as a Covid-19 hotspot for travel purposes, effective immediately.

“As previously announced, the Finke Desert Race committee extended refunds and entries from the waitlist through to Wednesday 9 June,” the spokesman said.

“With the announced change declaring regional Victoria no longer a COVID-19 Hotspot, the Finke Desert Race committee will be allowing entrants who had originally withdrawn to re-enter the event by 5pm ACST, Wednesday June 9 2021.

“We please ask for everyone’s patience as we work through the backlog of emails and phone calls that have come in since the Northern Territory Government’s announcement was made.

“The Finke Desert Race Committee is working with Northern Territory health officials and acknowledges the incredible importance of ensuring the health and safety of the public.”

The spokesman said the event would go ahead as planned, but it was unfortunate it would be “without a number of our Finke Family from Victoria”.

The Finke Desert Race will take place in Alice Springs and Finke from June 11-14, over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

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