1 down 5 up

[ChristoT]

There is no corner in the world that I would need to go from hooning to 1st

Umm 3rd to 1st on the Alps uphill switchbacks ,even mine wont climb in 2nd

My point exactly. 

if you're on the motorway, and reach for "7th". and you find yourself in neutral?

No you wouldnt as neutral would be next to 1st which is at the other end, going for 7th would be just like it is now-- a dead end

Just responding to the "what if neutral was at the top of the box" question.

Bigralphie is right, race gearboxes are 1 up, 5 (or however many) down. This is to make it easier to change up a gear coming out of corners. (You just tap your foot, rather than trying to get it under the shifter)