LAND Rover BAR moved another step closer to bringing home the America’s Cup after claiming overall victory in the World Series event.

A stunning final day performance saw them win the final round of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) in Japan overnight, meaning they were also crowned 2015-16 ACWS champions.

The World Series win means Land Rover BAR will take two bonus points into the next round of the competition, the America’s Cup Qualifiers, which start during May next year in Bermuda.

Ben Ainslie, Land Rover BAR skipper and team principal said: "It was an amazing day for the team because our core goal was to win the overall series - that is what we came here to do.

"To achieve that and come out on top in the final event and to get four regatta wins in the overall series, that is a huge achievement from a completely new team.

"Two and a half years ago we had absolutely nothing, so what we have achieved in building the team, the infrastructure, and this performance in the World Series is something we should all be incredibly proud of - but at the same time it’s just one step in our journey to the America’s Cup.

"Our objective was to get the two bonus points and we’ve got that, and now the focus is clearly on the race boat and the performance next summer in Bermuda.

"I am absolutely delighted by how things have gone, but at the same time I know our team and how focused they are on the America’s Cup.

"We will be straight into training in Bermuda and getting best prepared for the America’s Cup to try and bring it home after a 167 years of hurt."

Team BAR claimed victory in the Japanese leg of the World Series event with a race to spare.

A roller coaster day saw the team lock out the USA and New Zealand – the two closest overall opponents – at the start of the first race, only to watch them fly by on the run.

Land Rover BAR recovered to fourth but with the Kiwis and Americans in second and third it was still wide open.

The team kept supporters on their toes as they broke the line early in race two, with New Zealand and the USA clear leaders at the start gun.

A stunning recovery on the first lap saw them get back into the pack, and with an incredible final leg pass of the Americans, Land Rover BAR sealed the World Series win.

A third in the final race meant the full champagne moment as Ben Ainslie and crew closed out the double with a win for the Fukuoka event.

It’s been an extraordinary season, with consistency the key to Land Rover BAR’s success. In nine events, the team have only been off the podium twice, recording four event wins - twice in Portsmouth, and once in Oman and Fukuoka, bolstered by a second in Chicago and two third places in Gothenburg and Toulon.

Paul ’CJ’ Campbell-James said: "We couldn’t be happier, to win with one race to spare and then go on and dominate that last race and get the regatta win – it just doesn’t get better than that.

"We battled all day and that is when we are at our strongest – if the going gets tough we get going.

"It’s also good to have the most experienced man in the world steering, Ben did a fantastic job and Giles [Scott] got us out of some deep holes, while Nick [Hutton] and Fred [David Carr] put in a fantastic work rate.

"Special thanks goes to all the support team here in Japan and back in Portsmouth – they are key to keeping us on form."

Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Worlds Series Fukuoka Results:

1. Land Rover BAR 75pts, 2. Artemis Racing 75, 3. ORACLE TEAM USA 70, 4. Emirates Team New Zealand 65, 5. SoftBank Team Japan 61, 6. Groupama Team France 59.

Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Overall Results: 1. Land Rover BAR 512pts, 2. ORACLE TEAM USA 493, 3. Emirates Team New Zealand 485, 4. Artemis Racing 466, 5. SoftBank team Japan 460, 6. Groupama Team France 419.