I hate for this to be my first post, but it has to be.
Up until know I've been able to use the search button efficiently but I can't seem to find a situation similar to mine.

The First 2 runs (no issues, but some history)
I've had the car 2 weeks and brought it out to an AutoX today. I did 2 runs fine on the tight 66 second course they had layed out. First run was purely done in second just really to get a feel back for AutoX (it had been 3 years since I was out last). Second run I was able to keep it in first gear the entire time without hitting rev-limiter.

Ill fated 3rd run
3rd run is when the disaster struck. Did the whole run fine but in the long last right hand turn to the stop box the car 'chugged' and died. About 1/4 way into the turn I gave it a bit of gas and thats when I felt no power and the chugging. Quickly check temp & oil gauge and they're fine. In that split second notice the CEL is on. Car quits and I coast back to pits.

The Important items needed to diagnose
In pits I check gauges again, normal, look under car and no leaking fluids. Check oil and its sitting a hair under full (7/8 for arguments sake). Fuel level is half and contains Esso 91. After I did the once over I tried starting again. It fired up no problem but blipping the gas netted the same result: chugs and dies.

At this point I leave the hood up and go do my marshaling duties.

When my marshaling duties are done, 15 minutes later, I try starting the car again. It starts fine and actually stays running! Took it for a little spin, nothing beyond 4k rpm and it seems to be fine. I decide to call it quits at this point because its a 200km trek home and I don't want to do it with my 8 on a flatbed.

Now it was a rather HOT & HUMID day. Ambient temperature was about 31C (88F) and you could feel the humidity.

The car & the short history behind it:
2004 RX-8 (d'uh), manual, 84,000kms (52,000 miles).
Still using the 5w20 that the small dealership (where I bought the car) put in the car. I'll be using a heavier weight once I change next time.
Did not pre-mix.

I've had it 2 weeks and had 2 recalls done on it. 1 for oil cooler pipes and the other was a PCM update plus they had to check a bunch of stuff and they ended up replacing the spark plugs (I had to leave it with them for a whole day and drive around in my wifes malibu........).

Theory
Vapor lock?

Apologies
Sorry for the long read and THANK YOU TONS in advance for ANY type of feedback on the second most terrifying day of my life!

 

Oh and on my second run I noticed a faint oil'ish smell. Not really like burning oil but not really fresh oil... make any sense??

I did notice it again on my 3rd run when it died. Is this the 'smell of the CAT' that I've read about?

 

this sounds to me like it may be a bad fuel pump. nate just dealt with this and the symptoms sound very similar. Thats just my snap judgement though...and fuel pumps are pricey to just throw in you know. its hard to tell without hooking up the computer and seeing what code that was and also having a peak at the fuel trims.

 

sounds like a fuel pump issue. I've been seeing people reporting their fuel pumps acting up at around 70-80,000 miles. (yours might just be ahead of schedule)
look into a thread by Mazdamaniac about the fuel pump solution, looks like he's testing a replacement pump that should hold up better.

 

You may have hit limp mode.

Done that both in Auto X and HPDE

 

Agreed, fuel pump failure.

 

hmm interesting read up .. i havent had this issue but then agian i dont auto X. I hope you find your problem man.

 

Turned out to be coils.
Changing coils, plugs and wires.