Air Jack

An air jack is a pneumatic lifting system built into race cars that uses compressed air to quickly raise the vehicle off the ground during pit stops, allowing mechanics to change tires and perform maintenance in seconds rather than minutes.

In professional motorsport, every second counts during a pit stop. Traditional car jacks require crew members to manually position jacks under the car, pump them up, and then reverse the process. Air jacks eliminate most of this work by being permanently installed inside the race car itself, hidden within the chassis and undertray.

The system works through pressurized air delivered via a single air hose that a crew member connects to the car. When activated, pneumatic cylinders extend from recessed positions in the car's body, lifting all four corners simultaneously. This means the entire car can be raised in less than a second, compared to the several seconds needed with traditional jacking methods.

Most racing air jack systems use either three or four pneumatic cylinders strategically placed around the car. These cylinders are typically made from lightweight aluminum to minimize added weight, which is always a concern in motorsport. When not in use, the jack rods sit flush with the car's undertray, creating no aerodynamic disadvantage.

Air jacks come in two main varieties based on pressure requirements. Low-pressure systems operate between 8-12 bar and can work with standard workshop air compressors, making them accessible for amateur racing teams and club-level competition. High-pressure systems run at 20-30 bar and typically use nitrogen bottles instead of compressed air, offering faster lifting speeds for professional racing applications.

These systems are common across various racing disciplines including sports car racing, touring car championships, GT racing, and even drifting competitions. For example, Porsche Carrera Cup cars typically use either three or four air jacks depending on the specific model and series regulations.

Safety is a critical consideration with air jack systems. While they're excellent for quickly lifting a car, they're not designed to hold a vehicle safely for extended periods while crew members work underneath. Teams must use dedicated air jack stands or safety props to support the car once lifted, protecting mechanics from potential accidents if the pneumatic system fails or loses pressure.

The primary advantage of air jacks is speed and efficiency rather than smooth operation. Unlike the hydraulic jacks used in road cars that prioritize gentle lifting, racing air jacks are designed purely for rapid deployment. This can-do attitude toward lifting means the car might rise with a slight jolt, but in racing, that trade-off is worthwhile when fractions of a second determine race positions.