Mattias Ekström and map reader Emil Bergkvist beat former World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb on their way to victory in the prologue in Saudi Arabia.
The Swedish team was one second faster than Loeb on the opening 13 kilometer stretch.
- I am very satisfied with the prologue, we made no mistakes and the car was flawless, says Ekström.
The Dakar Rally starts in the Saudi city of Yanbu, near the Red Sea, and ends in Dammam, on the Persian Gulf.
It will be much tougher on New Year's Day, when a 603 kilometer long stage awaits the drivers in the desert.
- We are recharging our batteries for tomorrow, these are exciting times here and I am really happy that the rally has finally started here.