Image: Foremost Media.

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak and restrictions on large events has prompted organisers of the Tatts Finke Desert Race to cancel the 2020 edition.

It’s understood the Finke Desert Race Club committee held an emergency meeting this week regarding the impact of COVID-19 on this year’s event, where it was ultimately decided to abandon the June race meeting.

Last week the government imposed a ban on events of over 500 people in a bid to slow down the coronavirus, while a number of states have declared a State of Emergency.

The prestigious desert race, which has run every year for the past 44 years, was not considered to be postponed at a later date this year. Over 7000 local and interstate visitors travel to Alice Springs for the Finke Desert Race.