STORY OF THE DAY: Schetty Climbs the Dino to Victory

On 3 August 1969, Peter Schetty won the Cesana–Sestriere hill climb in the number 380 Ferrari Dino 212 E. The result formed part of his commanding European Hill Climb Championship campaign, which delivered the continental title to both driver and constructor.

The event compressed competition into a single mountain ascent, leaving no opportunity to recover time through endurance or strategy. Schetty combined precise course knowledge with confident use of the Dino’s low mass and immediate response, maintaining the form that defined his championship season.

The 212 E was a specialized open hill-climb car powered by a two-litre flat-twelve derived from Ferrari’s Formula One engineering. Its compact chassis, minimal bodywork and high-revving engine prioritized acceleration, agility and short-duration performance rather than the durability required in circuit endurance racing.

Schetty was a Swiss driver who progressed through touring cars and sports cars before joining Ferrari. His analytical approach and consistency made him ideally suited to developing and racing the 212 E. After securing the 1969 European title, he moved into management and directed Ferrari’s successful 1972 sports-prototype campaign.