Katherine Legge gladly would have traced a straight line to this point in her career. A few more well-funded, well-engineered seasons in the Champ Car series -- a Champ Car series, period -- some more wins, some more championships contested, the Indianapolis 500 in May, fanciful stuff.

But her progression from 24-year-old pioneer to 34-year-old pioneer of a different sort has been much more complicated, meandering through seven major forms of racing. It's also been more stressful.

"Whatever you do, there's no continuity from one year to the next,'' she said. "It's tough. I never had it easy. I know I've worked really, really hard over the years to have opportunities to drive cars. It's just been tough."

But it also has been rewarding in unexpected ways. And as Legge embarks on her next foray into a possible future path of motorsports racing all-electric cars in Formula E, she seeks reward in the unknown again.

Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven gave Katherine Legge a chance in 2005, and she responded with three wins in the Atlantics series. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

"I think I've been lucky," she said. "It's not the way I planned it, but it's been some fantastic opportunities."

Legge began creating opportunities a decade ago, hunkering in the lobby of the Cosworth engine company near her apartment in England one fall day in 2004 as multimillionaire Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven negotiated its purchase in an office. Her career in the British developmental series had reached the apex of her family's financial capabilities and she needed a benefactor, and a chance.

Surprised and impressed with her approach -- "People just don't do that," he remembered -- Kalkhoven signed Legge to a six-race personal services contract and farmed her to Polestar Racing. She won the 2005 Atlantics opener at Long Beach, then won twice more that season to finish third in points and establish herself in North America.

Legge advanced to the Champ Car series for two seasons -- becoming the first woman to lead laps -- just as it was entering its financial death throes and was melded into rival IndyCar beginning with the 2008 season. She left North America to race three seasons in the competitive DTM touring car series in Germany before returning to the amalgamated IndyCar in 2012 for Dragon Racing. Last year, she became one of the first drivers of the revolutionary Delta Wing's foray into the Tudor Sports Car series. Legge was at the wheel at Road America when the Delta Wing led its first competitive laps.

"It's a difficult thing as a driver to be able to get the opportunity to drive in a lot of different series and not just drive but be successful," said Scott Pruett, who has driven at the highest level of open wheel, stock car and sports car racing, where he has won 11 championships. "You have to have a lot of confidence in yourself, and those around you have to have a lot of confidence in you to give you the opportunity to make those moves."

And now comes the next evolution, with Formula E.

Sanctioned by the motorsports-governing FIA as a bridge to the next generation of racing, the Formula E Championship commenced a 10-race schedule on Sept. 13 through the streets of Beijing. One-day street-course events are currently scheduled for markets such as London, Berlin and Monaco, with the series making its first domestic stop in Miami on March 14.

Katherine Legge was drawn to Formula E immediately and found a ride with Amlin Aguri; the first race was Sept. 13 in Beijing. AP Photo/Andy Wong

Legge was first familiarized with the concept of the series through her work as ambassador for the FIA's Women in Motorsport Mission. She participated in its first test and subsequently tasked her management with finding an open seat. It came with Amlin Aguri.

Legge, who already was committed to Delta Wing for 2014, was drawn to Formula E for a multitude of reasons, including the opportunity for a "pay it forward kind of thing."

"And it's good racing," she said. "I think that's how people will ultimately measure it. The competition is really strong.

"It's just a new concept that's really cool and really interesting. It's a lot quieter, so the kids can show up as well. It's new technology. The fact it's global, I think, really makes it unique and forward-thinking."

And it is generating as much opinion as power, as notably demonstrated by a TopGear.com headline reading: "Formula E: the future or just rubbish?" The cars have been both praised and panned for their lack of a traditional guttural engine growl, a maximum straightaway speed of 140 mph and the fact that drivers must switch race cars mid-event as their batteries cannot currently last the race distance. But the series is generally being considered a noble effort for now.

An online fan vote affords three racers an extra boost of mid-race power -- from 133 to 200 kilowatts -- and Legge was one of three to win the jolt in China. A communication problem prevented her from utilizing it, however.

Piqued sponsor interest and ancillary attention from celebrities have spurred promise that the series can survive. More important, interest from manufacturers hoping to use the series the way General Motors uses NASCAR and IndyCar to develop technology and heighten brand awareness could boost profile and relevance to consumers and fans alike.