Ceredigion councillors offered ride in a helicopter by CEO Eifion Evans

Come fly with me - that’s the song being sung by Ceredigion County Council CEO Eifion Evans as he offers county councillors a chance to ride in a helicopter with him.

But who will win the ticket to ride?

CEO Evans - who earns £155,000 a year and is an avid backer of Rali Ceredigion - has offered the chance to view the racing from above in a chopper.

The VIP treatment is being offered as the rally comes to the county this weekend.

Normal racing fans will have to stump up £60 for a day pass to watch the racing or £15 a person to watch the Aberystwyth street stage of the rally, which will see several roads round Aberystwyth on Friday and Saturday. Many rural roads are also affected by closures, irritating local residents.

A sweepstake is however being offered to elected for county councillors to ride.

Before embarking on a career as a schoolteacher, Evans enjoyed tinkering with old cars and engines in his late teens, multiple Cambrian News sources say, inspiring his investment of half a million pounds of taxpayer funds since the rally returned in 2022.

In messages seen by the Cambrian News, councillors, who all have a basic salary of £21,044, can put their name in a hat for the chance to receive the jolly.

Rali Ceredigion is estimated to bring roughly £3 million to £4.65 million into the local economy per event.

The rally will take place between 4-6 September.

Across three days, international and national competitors will tackle just shy of 122 miles of competitive against-the-clock, action over 16 special closed-road stages through Ceredigion and Powys, ranging from narrow and bumpy lanes to vast stretches of open moorland.

Speaking earlier this year, council leader, Bryan Davies, said: “We’re proud to welcome Rali Ceredigion back to the county for 2026. The event continues to grow year on year, bringing significant benefits to our communities, local businesses and the wider economy.

“With an expanded programme and the addition of the European Historic Rally Championship, this year’s event promises to attract even more visitors to the region. As a Council, our focus is on working closely with organisers and partners to ensure residents are well informed and that the event is delivered safely and successfully for everyone.”