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Round 8 of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series took place in Toulon «»

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«The Louis Vuitton World Series stage of the America's Cup» in Toulon was won by the Swedish team Artemis Racing. Softbank Team Japan finished the stage in second place, making an incredible jump from the last position they were in after Saturday's races. Britain's Land Rover BAR was also able to improve on their Saturday result, moving up from fifth to third place, thus maintaining their lead in the overall World Series standings.

At the start of Sunday's first race, Emirates Team New Zealand led by Pete Burling, but as on Saturday, Artemis Racing quickly grabbed the lead and were first to round the first mark. Land Rover BAR received a penalty before the start of the race, but despite the penalty, by the middle of the race were successfully fighting for third position, leaving ORACLE TEAM USA, Groupama Team France and Emirates Team New Zealand behind. In the third race Artemis increased their lead, coming in first for the third time of the weekend. In race four, the biggest disappointment was Groupama Team France, who finished in last place, missing Emirates Team New Zealand and moving up to fourth place in the standings. Land Rover BAR managed to hold on to third position, but ORACLE TEAM USA continued to compete for bronze in fourth. Everything was to be decided in the fifth and sixth races.

In race five, Ben Ainslie's Land Rover BAR had the early advantage, being the first to round the first mark. Groupama Team France took second place. Artemis Racing and Softbank Team Japan were penalized at the start, but the Swedes again managed to show character and move into third place by the end of the race. The Japanese team was in fifth place, just behind the New Zealanders, with ORACLE TEAM USA coming in last. By the end of race five, the top three positions were unchanged while Dean Barker's team managed to reclaim fourth place, leaving ORACLE TEAM USA and Emirates Team New Zealand to fight it out for fifth and sixth place.

The sixth and final race was a showdown. ORACLE TEAM USA and Artemis Racing were penalised for earlier crossing the start line. Groupama Team France finally showed what they were capable of by taking a big lead early in the race over Softbank Team Japan who finished second. Land Rover BAR received a penalty for blocking Emirates Team New Zealand and found themselves at the tail end of the fleet.

At a certain point in the race, the lead suddenly changed as Softbank Team Japan took the lead, followed by Emirates Team New Zealand, pushing the French into third place.

Winning the last race moved Softbank Team Japan from last place to second in the standings. Artemis Racing managed to retain the gold medal despite finishing fifth in the last race. Land Rover BAR finished the weekend in third place, Groupama Team France in fourth, Emirates Team New Zealand in fifth and ORACLE TEAM USA in sixth. As a result Land Rover BAR increased their lead from ORACLE TEAM USA to 14 points in the overall standings, so an intense battle awaits us at the next round of the World Series to be held in Fukuoka (Japan).

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