Method for allowing the proper functioning of a recognition means to be checked, which means is designed to automatically recognise an object in a region surrounding a motor vehicle on the basis of sensor data of at least one sensor of the motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: a) providing a simulator which makes it possible to simulate a surrounding region on the basis of a set of data defining the surrounding region to be simulated; b) providing at least one set of data and, for each set of data, simulating the surrounding region defined by the set of data; c) generating, on the basis of the simulation, sensor data relating to each surrounding region; d) operating the recognition means using the sensor data and thus determining a recognition result for each surrounding region; e) comparing, for each surrounding region, the recognition result to a target recognition result defined by the simulated surrounding region; f) automatically generating at least one supplementary set of data according to a result of the comparison, which supplementary set of data makes it possible to simulate an additional surrounding region, characterised in that, in step f), a set of data provided in step b) is determined, for which set of data a recognition result fulfils a predetermined criterion which indicates that, for the surrounding region defined by the set of data, it is necessary to perform additional checks of the proper functioning of the recognition means, and, in step f), the at least one supplementary set of data is generated by changing just one part of the determined set of data, so that the supplementary set of data describes a similar surrounding region to that which has already been simulated on the basis of the determined set of data, and a sequence of steps a) to f) being carried out a plurality of times in succession and in this regard, when the sequence is repeated at least once, the at least one supplementary set of data generated in the preceding step f) being additionally added in in step b), and the repetition of the sequence being discontinued in step e) if the result of the comparison fulfils a predetermined criterion, and a compilation of sets of data being produced as a result, which compilation additionally makes it possible to simulate an original surrounding region and to also simulate that surrounding region for which a more precise check of the operation of the recognition means is necessary. a) providing a simulator which makes it possible to simulate a surrounding region on the basis of a set of data defining the surrounding region to be simulated; b) providing at least one set of data and, for each set of data, simulating the surrounding region defined by the set of data; c) generating, on the basis of the simulation, sensor data relating to each surrounding region; d) operating the recognition means using the sensor data and thus determining a recognition result for each surrounding region; e) comparing, for each surrounding region, the recognition result to a target recognition result defined by the simulated surrounding region; f) automatically generating at least one supplementary set of data according to a result of the comparison, which supplementary set of data makes it possible to simulate an additional surrounding region,