PARIS, Feb 15, 2008 (AFP) - Lewis Hamilton´s McLaren team as well as a host of their competitors have thrown their weight behind an anti-racism campaign to be launched by Formula One bosses this year.

The move comes after Hamilton was racially abused by a group of spectators while testing at Barcelona last month.

The sport´s governing body, the FIA, has called on all of motor racing´s stakeholders, including drivers, teams, circuits and national sporting authorities, to support the scheme.

"Together with the Spanish motorsport authorities, the Barcelona circuit management and the vast majority of the Spanish people, as well as all genuine F1 fans worldwide, we applaud the FIA´s decision to launch an anti-racism campaign for motorsport and we will support it in whatever way we can," a McLaren spokesman told www.autosport.com.

"We fervently hope that the racist behaviour of a tiny minority of so-called F1 fans at a recent Barcelona test was an isolated incident that will not be repeated elsewhere.

"As we have already made clear, McLaren Mercedes have raced and tested on Spanish circuits for many years, and everyone connected with the team regards Spain and the Spanish people with great affection, Lewis Hamilton included."

The scheme, ´Racing against Racism´, will be officially launched at the Spanish Grand Prix as a way of showing that racism will not be tolerated in motorsport.

Toyota president John Howett told the website: "Toyota Racing supports any efforts to combat racism and we fully endorse the stance being adopted by the FIA."

Super Aguri and Ferrari have also said they will support the plan.

"Ferrari has solidarity with all initiatives against any type of discrimination," said a spokesman for the world champions.