New fans of the Premier League and Formula One may be surprised to discover that, in 2008, a creative racing series enjoyed its inaugural year, combining the two sporting behemoths. Superleague Formula ran for four seasons, with each team representing a football club or national team.

The concept delivered on the promise of Premier 1 Grand Prix, which attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Leeds United in 2001, but collapsed in 2003 without having held a race. Superleague Formula gained FIA approval in 2005 and launched its first season in 2008. During its four-year existence, seven former F1 drivers competed in the series, including Sebastian Bourdais, Robert Doornbos, Enrique Bernoldi and Narain Karthikeyan. The race weekends were split into two 45-minute races, one of which utilised a reverse-grid format, with prize money set at €1million (£860,000) per event.

The 2008 championship was won by Chinese club Beijing Guoan, who were operated by Zakspeed. The German auto racing squad competed in F1 between 1985 and 1989. Liverpool and Spurs were the only Premier League teams involved, finishing fourth and 11th in the standings, respectively.

Other notable contenders in the first Superleague Formula campaign were AC Milan, Rangers, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid. In 2009, Liverpool climbed to the top of the standings after Adrian Valles finished inside the top nine at every race.

Spurs were forced to watch their Premier League rivals take home the silverware from second. Craig Dolby delivered a win and three more podium finishes, but ended the year 30 points behind Liverpool.

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In 2010, a format change introduced a third sprint race each weekend, and Anderlecht snatched the title. They beat Spurs by just two points, with Davide Rigon pipping Dolby to glory. Liverpool ended the third season of Superleague Formula down in 10th, one spot behind 2008 champions Beijing Guoan.

The 2011 season was the beginning of the end for Superleague Formula, though. Only six of the clubs continued in the series - Liverpool and Spurs both dropped out - with the remainder of the grid made up of national teams.

Ultimately, Australia were crowned champions after just six races were carried out, with the rounds in the Netherlands and Belgium making up the entire championship after a series of cancellations and relocations. News for the 2012 edition was absent, and Superleague Formula was discontinued after four seasons at the end of 2011.