I started a second license today, and the same thing happened with my Luigi Circuit TT. Unlock time: 1:24.957. Time I did to unlock the ghost: 1:25.594.
I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the UK version of the game, or the fact that I'm playing at 50 and not 60. Having said that, on some of the tracks I was very close to the unlock time and the ghost wasn't unlocked until I subbed the stated time.
If anyone time trials pretty well they could take an empty license and TT one of the tracks with a big difference (Koopa Cape or Bowser Castle 3), and slow down at the finish, crossing the line a bit slower than the unlock time. I can understand people being dubious with me being a new poster, but there really isn't a reason for me to claim I'm
slower than I really am.
