All the details for the 2023 Finke Desert Race
With 12,000 spectators expected to descend on the Red Centre, the Finke Desert Race this King’s Birthday Weekend won’t be one to miss. Read the full guide, including new spectator rules, here.
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More than 500 competitors and an expected 12,000 spectators will descend on the Red Centre this King’s Birthday Weekend for the 2023 Finke Desert Race, this year with a revamped spectator safety procedure.
After a delay in the issuing of a permit for the car section of the race, Finke Desert Race committee vice president Kelsey Bradford said she was feeling “extremely fortunate” for this years event to go ahead.
“The Tatts Finke Desert Race belongs to Central Australia and it’s something we don’t take for granted,” she said.
“Each year we look forward to seeing out Tatts Finke Desert Race family, we have made so many amazing friendships over the years and it’s like one big family reunion.”
With 131 registered in the car section and 461 registered in the bikes, Ms Bradford said she was excited to see all competitors across the weekend.
“Although I am bias, my husband Ryan Branford who won in 2006 is returning on a bike after nine years away from riding, so I’m pretty excited to see that.”
She said the committee was expecting up to 12,000 spectators at this years event, which has new safety requirements for spectators following evidence presented in the inquest into the death of Nigel Harris at the 2021 race, which concluded in early May.
Mr Harris died when a trophy truck hit a bump coming off a jump near the 35km mark of the 2021 race, fracturing the lower rear axle and leading to the driver having no control of his vehicle as it crashed into spectators.
The new safety measures include a minimum spectator setback from the track of 30m, designated spectator exclusion zones, supervised public viewing points along the track, and an increased number of spectator marshalls to enforce rules.
Kicking off on Thursday night, there will be multiple opportunities and events across the weekend for spectators to get in on the action.
Thursday, June 8: Finke Street Party and Night Markets
The weekend will begin on Thursday evening, with the Finke Desert Race kick-off party combining with the council-organised Todd Mall night markets in Alice Springs’ CBD.
Competitors will appear at the event, including seven-time ‘King of the Desert’ Toby Price and Bike race record holder and Alice Springs local David Walsh.
Merchandise will be available for purchase at the event.
The markets are schedule to begin at 5pm, and wrap up at 9pm.
Friday, June 9: Scrutineering
About 3000 people are expected to attend the scrutineering process at the start/finish line of the race on Friday between 4pm and 9pm.
Competitors will have their machinery and clothing checked and passed before racing begins.
All bikes and cars will be on display while the scrutineering takes place, allowing spectators to get up close and personal to competitors and the machinery.
There will also be food and drink stalls available, with official merchandise also available for purchase.
Entry is $20 for adults, with children 15 years and under able to enter for free.
Saturday, June 10: Prologue
Competitors race against the clock on an 8.3km track to determine their starting position for day one of the race.
Cars will kick off first at 8am at the Start/Finish line, with bikes to begin the process at the same location at 12pm.
Entry is $15 for adults, with children 15 and under scoring free entry.
Sunday, June 11: Race Day One
Day one kicks off the 225km journey to Finke.
Competitors have four hours to make the journey, with bikes out of the day two race if they don’t make it in time.
Vehicles must pass through each of the four checkpoints along the track and then check-in with officials once they arrive at Finke.
Cars will head off at 7.30am from the start line, with the last car due to arrive at Finke about 12.50pm.
Bikes will follow at 12pm, with the last bike due to arrive in Finke at about 5.30pm.
Start times and sequences of the race can be located on the Finke Desert Race official website.
Entry is $10 for adults and free for those under the age of 15.
Monday, June 12: Race Day Two and Presentation Night
Competitors make the gruelling journey back from Finke to the finish line in Alice Springs.
Cars will head off first at 7.15am, with the first car expected in Alice Springs by 9.05am.
Bikes will once again head off afterwards at 12pm, with the last bike due in Alice Springs at about 1.45pm.
Starting times and sequences will be posted on the Finke Desert Race official website the night before the event.
A presentation night at Alice Springs Convention Centre will follow at 8pm, with class places awarded first before outright bike and car places.
Entry is free for competitors and pit crew, with others able to purchase tickets for $20 at the door on the night.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Organisers have warned the event goes into the early hours of the morning, “so prepare for a big one!”
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