The 2010 champion completed the course in his Volkswagen in a time of seven minutes and 40 seconds to build up an early lead over Toyota's Lucio Alvarez who was eight seconds back.
In third place, a further two seconds back, was Guerlain Chicherit (SMG) and defending champion Nasser al-Attiyah, who like Sainz is in a Volkswagen, was fourth.
Stage One result
1 Carlos Sainz (ESP)7:40
2 Lucio Ezequiel Alvarez (ARG) +08
3 Guerlain Chicherit (FRA) +10
4 Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) +10
5 Ronan Chabot (FRA) +12
6 Krzystof Holowczyc (POL) +34
7 Leonid Novitskiy (RUS) +34
8 Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) +34
9 Giniel de Villiers (RSA) +35
10 Nani Roma (ESP) +37
