Britis ace endures racist abuse form disgruntled Spanish supporters.

Lewis Hamilton has been the subject of racist abuse during testing in Barcelona this weekend, according to reports.

The Associated Press claims the young Briton - the first black driver ever to compete in Formula 1 - was jeered and insulted when he moved between the McLaren-Mercedes motorhome in the paddock and the Circuit de Catalunya today.

Circuit director Ramon Pradera is said to have instructed staff to put barriers up around the McLaren facilities to protect the 23-year-old's safety. Banners around the track referring to both Hamilton and team boss Ron Dennis were removed, while the stands directly above the McLaren garage were cleared to ensure no debris could be thrown down when the car returned to the pit-lane.

"We would like to make a plea to the fans to behave correctly," Pradera urged. "No type of offensive behavior can be tolerated."

Hamilton was widely vilified by Spanish fans last season after they blamed him for national hero Fernando Alonso's failure to clinch a third straight world drivers' championship title.