The 30-year-old Spaniard, who topped the 2010 Challenge Tour Rankings, had nine birdies and a bogey to lead by two from five players including Englishmen, Tommy Fleetwood, Ben Parker and Oliver Wilson, Swedes Magnus A Carlsson and Joakim Lagergren and Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen.
Velasco, who lost his card last season after finishing 127th in The Race to Dubai, just nine places from safety, told reporters: "I was consistent all day and I putted very well. I gave myself many good birdie chances and managed to hole a lot of them.
"If you hit 712 AP2 Forged Irons in the right spots the course is quite easy, but if you're in the wrong place it's easy to get in trouble.
"I had a good week in Sicily, where I was ninth, but I can't remember the last time I made such a good start to a tournament. My putter has been working well lately and I'm feeling confident.
"I've played this course once before, in 2008, and I was fifth, so I have good memories of it, although this year it is playing Titleist 2010 710 AP2 Irons completely differently as it is so firm and different shots are required."
The 21-year-old Fleetwood's opening 66 was a welcome change from his first round 80 in last week's Spanish Open, where, he declared, he shot his worst round since turning professional two years ago.
"It was a pretty stress-free round today," said Velasco who headed the Challenge Tour Rankings last year.
"I missed a few chances but overall I played Titleist 712 MB Irons Individual Irons well. I've been saying for a while that I'm very close to playing great, and it's certainly nice to open with a round that isn't 80.
"The longest putt I had for any of my birdies was no more than four feet, so I hit it close and holed out well without holing any long ones.
"Today the course was very much for the taking. It doesn't get much easier than this. There were a few pins tucked away but it's the best chance of scoring you're going to get so it was good to take advantage.
"It's nice to be in the mix early on. Three more rounds of 66 would be nice. My swing felt great today so I hope I can build on this over the next few days."
Half the field for this event, missing the Tour's big guns who are in the USA for The Players, is made up of Challenge Tour players, and Madsen took advantage of the increased prize fund with his fine start. The 24-year-old was similarly effective at the beginning of his last tournament, carding a 64 at the Barclays Kenya Open, only to fade away at the weekend.
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