WORLD champion Michael Schumacher yesterday began three days of testing in Barcelona as his Ferrari team try to iron out the problems which have plagued their Grand Prix season.

Schumacher and team mate Eddie Irvine have suffered endless frustration as their cars have repeatedly failed to complete the course.

Both were forced to retire during last Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix Schumacher just six laps from the end while lying third taking the total of Ferrari retirements to nine from 10 starts.

To add to the team's woes, they could only watch as Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill came in first and second on Sunday to give Williams its eighth Formula One Constructors' Championship, matching Ferrari's 13 year old record.

Schumacher will spend his time in Spain testing tyres as well as Ferrari's seven speed gearbox as he prepares for the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday week.

Meanwhile, the championship leader, Hill, will be in Barcelona to work on his starting technique after a number of poor showings from the grid this year.

Fellow Briton Johnny Herbert has been in Austria testing his Sauber Ford on the new Al Ring circuit which could be the venue for 1997's Austrian Grand Prix.

After suffering a major engine mishap after just three laps, a new engine was installed and he set a fastest lap time of 1 min 17.55 sees an average 125 m.p.h.