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Kalgoorlie-Boulder driver Troy Higgins sets sights closer to home after cancellation of 2020 Finke Desert Race

Tom ZaunmayrKalgoorlie Miner
Higgins Motorsports' Troy Higgins.
Camera IconHiggins Motorsports' Troy Higgins. Credit: Kelsey Reid/Kalgoorlie Miner

Tinkering and drinking in the shed may have replaced the roar of engines across the outback this year but drivers are already casting their gaze to October to dust off the cobwebs in the red dirt of the Goldfields

The 2020 Finke Desert Race was, like most events this year, cancelled because of coronavirus back in March.

With postponement until late 2020 not considered, the NT desert will be without the flagship race for the first time in 44 years.

Kalgoorlie driver Troy Higgins had planned to take on the challenge for the second time, but his machine has instead been under wraps in the shed due to the race’s cancellation.

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“Finke is the Bathurst of off-road racing,” he said. “We entered ... then it all got stopped which is a bit of a shame.”

With the cancellation of Finke, Higgins has turned his focus to the local Kalgoorlie Desert Race due to be held October 22 to 25.

After a disappointing 2019 race on his home track which ended with his buggy being towed, Higgins is keen to kick up the dirt again.

Troy Higgins in action on the racetrack.
Camera IconTroy Higgins in action on the racetrack. Credit: TLA Worldwide/TLA Worldwide

“We ironed out the issues with the car and are hopefully on top of it this year, but it is just off-roading, no matter what you do the unknown happens all the time,” he said. “It is brutal, it is hard on gear, you always seem to break a bit of s....

“A lot of man hours in the shed to prep them to sustain that sort of punishment out in the desert.”

Higgins said he was excited by the prospect of a big field competing in what could be the biggest off-road race of the year in Kalgoorlie.

“I think there is more drinking beer in the shed than actual racing at the moment so it will be interesting to see how many cars are out there this time around,” he said.

“If the border is open there will be a fair bit of traffic coming over.

“At the moment it is just a case of prepping, playing, pulling stuff apart.”

More than 260 pre-registrations for the Kalgoorlie Desert Race had been made by July 1.

Finke has been scheduled to return in June 2021.

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