His mother's sister, Cassandra Frederich (afterwards Mrs. Wynne), a pianist, interested herself in his musical training, and he was a pupil of Johann Christian Bach, and later of Bertolini, Sacchini, and Anfossi.
Wendlinger and Bertolini won at Magny-Cours but missed the win at the Spa 24 Hours by two laps, taking third place at the end of the year for the drivers championship, with the team reaching second place.