Opinions on LH footrests

[Silver Ghia]

When I mentioned about the lack of a LH footrest in the recent thread about the Ghia disappearing, I got a surprise that some actually dont want a footrest.

I was taught that to get a good balanced, supported position in the drivers seat when driving, especially when doing laps on a track, you lean your left knee against the console, your right knee against the right hand trim, and your left foot on the footrest. Seated in this position both feet are then approximately the same distance away from the seat. Your body is then supported much better when subject to the inertia forces acting on your body when going around corners etc, whilst being able to maintain good control of the pedals.

In addition, the left foot can then counteract the loads on the right foot which is operating the pedals, assisting in controlling the RH foot travel when accelerating and braking.

Perhaps it doesnt matter so much these days to have good contol of the brake pedal, with ABS brakes enabling one to just slam on the brake pedal, but when doing this, your body still needs to be balanced and supported, to enable you to still control the car.

With no footrest, you cannot support your body as well. Therefore I believe the more serious driver would want a footrest.

When the BA Falcons/Fairmonts first came out, nearly all road testers commented on the lack of a footrest in these models.

I believe they were omitted to reduce costs, with the excuse that they caused foot injuries in accidents.

Most other cars still have footrests, the Golf even has one also for the RH foot.

What is your opinion on the footrest? Should they be re-introduced, or not?