First post-season test begins in Spain

(GMM) More than a year after his retirement, seven time world champion Michael Schumacher stole the show on Tuesday as F1's first post-season test kicked off outside Barcelona.

At precisely 9:01am, the famous German rolled onto Circuit de Catalunya in a Ferrari, and by lunch he was trailing only McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa for the quickest lap.

A banner in the grandstand read: "Schumi, we've missed you so much".
ppp Also conspicuous were the Honda-powered runners, as both the works team and Super Aguri apparently tested with similar plain-white RA107 chassis.
ppp It is not known if Honda's famed 'earth car' will reappear at the grands prix in 2008.

Force India, formerly Spyker, powered onto the Spanish venue with the 2007 car re-painted from orange to white and burgundy, and team owner Vijay Mallya's 'Fly Kingfisher' sponsor logos appear to have been switched from the Toyota garage to a new home.

Toro Rosso refugee Vitantonio Liuzzi, meanwhile, stood in pitlane ahead of his Force India trial later this week.

The Barcelona test continues on Wednesday and Thursday.