Finke Desert Race’s reigning fastest female Danielle Foot is back for 2022

Finke’s reigning woman Danielle Foot is back for her 6th year and gunning for the fastest female award.

FINKE Desert Race’s reigning fastest female Danielle Foot is back for her 6th year and gearing up for another win.

Ms Foot will be racing a 250 TE husqvarna as well as navigating with her dad in the side-by- side turbo.

Ms Foot said she was prepared and ready for another win.

“Last year I won the 250 2-stroke, class 3,” she said.

“With everything that happened in the fatality, which was unfortunate, we didn’t feel like we finished it.

“It wasn’t exactly how we planned so we’re back here again trying to get the class 3 win and the fastest female award.”

Ms Foot is an avid racer and said she was excited to be on the road with her dad by her side..

She said emotions were running high this year.

“It will be pretty crazy if we pull this off because it has been almost a logistic nightmare to work everything out,” she said.

“There is so much going on, we usually only do a week up here every year and we managed to squeeze everything in a week.

“There have been some very long days but the relief of crossing the finish line will be very high and there will be a lot of emotions going through.”
Ms Foot and her fellow competitors will have to deal with dramatic changes that will be introduced to the event this year.

There will be spectator exclusion zones and a ban on trackside camping among other safety measures.

Nigel Harris was tragically killed when a vehicle veered off the road and into spectators at the Finke Desert Race on Monday. Picture: Facebook.

These measures come following the tragic death of spectator Nigel Harris at last year’s event.

The 60-year-old from Canberra had been photographing race vehicles as they travelled over the crest of a hill about 35km from the finish line in Alice Springs.

It is believed the vehicle drove over the top of Mr Harris, who was dragged for several metres across the dirt.

Another spectator in his 50s sustained serious injuries, while a woman in her 50s, the navigator of the vehicle, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Finke Desert Race president Antony Yoffa said a committee had decided on the changes after the fatal crash and following meeting with race organisers and MotorSport Australia.

Spectators have been barred from areas of the track this year that are considered dangerous and it is recommended spectators remain at least 20m back from the track across the entirety of its length.

This year, student paramedics from Charles Darwin University will be sent to provide emergency medical support to riders and spectators under the supervision of qualified paramedics as well.

Originally published as Finke Desert Race’s reigning fastest female Danielle Foot is back for 2022